There's been a direct hit in Sector 13!
And pressure leaks in Sector 16...
...but the damage is minimal!
I guess that's it. We can't last much longer.
All ships retreat!
Retreat...?
The enemy has completely surrounded us!
They probably won't come after us.
Of course, if they're completely stupid...
...it'll be a different story!
Squadron space-time bubble, complete the maneuver!
Roger!
All ships!
Follow the Lashkau!
The enemy's coming after us!
Distance ten sheskedrel.
Space-time fusion!
Two more enemy ships at one hundred seventy degrees!
Looks like the enemy is stupid!
Oh. Do they really hate me that much?
Do what you can to break through!
The Doubilge has exploded.
What have I done?
Did I choose the wrong time to retreat?
The enemy fleet is moving towards the Lobnas Gate!
And there's a detachment headed our way!
Do you think they're giving us a chance to escape?
Seems that way.
No way!
Is she actually thankful?!
What's the situation?
Checking now.
We have a response!
The enemy fleet's passing through the Lobnas Gate!
Looks like we didn't make it.
What should we do?
We have no choice but to go through.
All ships activate space-time bubble generators!
Space-time bubble activated!
The enemy's right behind us!
Here they come!
Prepare for battle!
The laser cannon is ready!
Catch up with the transport ships...
...and continue advancing!
Enemy ships confirmed ahead!
Ignore them and keep moving!
Enemy ships approaching at forty-five degrees!
Three more to starboard at ninety degrees!
They're not attacking...
Maybe it's our lucky day.
They probably don't have orders on how to deal with us yet.
More enemy ships crossing our flight path ahead!
We can do it!
If they fire now they'll hit each other!
Ten seconds until the Lobnas Gate!
Eight...seven...six...five...four...
...three...two...one.
Passing through!
We've passed through the Lobnas Gate.
All space-time bubbles, go to maximum speed!
Get us out of here.
Don't let them fuse with our own!
Roger!
Confirm the positions of the other three ships.
Second Aviator Ekuryua...
What's the enemy position?
They've completely surrounded us.
Deputy Captain?
We've received a signal to regroup.
It's from the Lashkau.
All right.
Then we're going to rendezvous with Admiral Spoor.
At least the 1st Fleet managed to get out of this all right.
Maybe not.
Is this all that's left of the 1st Fleet?
Banner of the Stars II
To Lay Down the Bow
Of the thirty-three patrol ships participating in the battle...
...twenty-six were completely destroyed...
...four suffered major damage...
...and three with minor damage, including the Lashkau.
I thought I was prepared for this...
...but it's hard to deal with it when so many have died.
Can anyone really say that...
...their deaths weren't meaningless?
Is this what the Empress has to deal with every single day?
Will I be able to handle it?
Perhaps I'm not fit to be a military officer.
I'm not suited to the military, after all.
Father...
I'm losing confidence.
It's now clear why the enemy didn't attack us back there.
I believe they were nothing but supply squadrons.
They likely didn't have much firepower.
Well, that makes two of us.
If they had come straight at us...
...we would've been decimated, even if they were supply ships.
We were very lucky.
Confirming the position of the Lyweses.
Okay, let's exit space-time fusion.
And get out of this wretched region as soon as possible.
I wonder if everyone's blaming me.
Of course...
I'm the one who got us involved in this mess in the first place.
Moreover, I'm more concerned about the one life we left behind...
...than the thousands of lives that were lost in battle today.
Jinto...
What about the enemy fleet?
Well, I guess they'll probably...
We can win this.
Thanks to the 1st Fleet...
...we now know that they have less than half our strength.
Salks Gate
And...
...they need to be re-supplied.
They leave the Lobnas System...
...and take a bold course to the Salks System...
...knowing that we're here.
Which means they figured they wouldn't survive...
...unless they get through the Salks Gate.
So what's the plan?
We have two options.
One is not to let them through the Gate...
...and the other is to let them in and trap them.
Which would you prefer?
Drawn-out battles are not my style.
Let's just get rid of them quickly.
So, is stopping them from entering the gate okay?
Yes.
It won't be pleasant for them but we will wipe them out.
Roger.
Enemy space-time bubbles are now within mine range!
Prepare to fire the mines!
Message from the enemy!
What does it say?
The enemy wishes to surrender.
Surrender?
Are you sure that's what it says?
I'm sure of it.
They're repeating it now.
This works out rather well.
This way we don't have to risk suffering any casualties.
I don't need you to tell me that!
What I don't understand is...
...if they want to surrender...
...why did they try to escape this way in the first place?
I see.
But what's done is done.
What about trying to persuade them to withdraw their surrender?
Why bother going through that trouble?
I'm just going to refuse them.
You want to refuse them?
I'm irritated precisely because I can't do that!
What was the purpose of their initial effort?
Did they really believe they could sail through here?
Although only temporarily, they did manage to pick off...
...some of our own frontline forces.
If I were their supreme commander...
...I'd commend them for their actions.
If they fight here...
...they'll simply be wiped out.
And they'll hardly make a dent in our firepower.
Surrender seems like the only rational response.
Tell the enemy commander that.
I'm sure he'd like that.
Yes, sir.
Even if they took out a few of our frontline ships...
...if their main fleet can't take advantage of it, what'd be the point?
That's not the responsibility of the ships we're dealing with.
Besides...
...if what you say is true, what's our purpose here?
We get dragged around by an enemy that doesn't want to fight.
How stupid!
You mustn't be so hard on yourself.
I'm not being hard on myself.
Right. Nevertheless, we did what we had to.
If you want to blame someone...
...blame those at Operation Hunter HQ.
I know at least that much!
Do something about that habit of telling me what I already know!
My apologies.
Tell all squadrons to cease battle plans.
Put all mines back into storage...
...and shut down the laser cannons.
And take down the decorations for the victory celebration!
Step down from battle stations and get some rest!
I'm going to lie down.
I'll leave the details for you to deal with.
By the way...
...don't forget to congratulate the enemy commander as well.
Yes, sir.
But if you don't mind, I think we can leave...
...the decorations for our victory celebration.
However this turns out, there's no doubt that we will be victorious.
What? Were there really such decorations?
No.
But we did consider that you may want us to make such plans.
The enemy wouldn't appreciate your presumptuousness!
Nevertheless, what would you like me to do about it?
All right, plan your celebration.
But there won't be any alcohol provided by the Commander Admiral.
Keep all expenses to a bare minimum.
How about if everyone chips in?
It's okay to rely on the loyalty of my men.
But we shouldn't be too greedy.
Why should they have to pay to celebrate a victory for the Empire?
There's no way I can order that.
Understood.
Tenth day of the Month of Keefu.
Operation Hunter is now in its final stages.
Three weeks ago...
...the enemy forces that had tried to escape...
...through our weakened frontline...
...were hunted down by Admiral Trife and the 21st Fleet.
They surrendered.
Of the other enemy forces fighting on various fronts...
...those that foolishly resisted were wiped out...
...while others wisely surrendered.
And now, we, the 4th Fleet...
...were headed back to the Star System...
...where our journey had started.
Commander-in-Chief!
We're going to pass through the Vascotton Gate.
The area seems clear of enemy surveillance.
The Vascotton Gate?
We've come full circle, to where it all began.
Yes.
This was where the allied forces launched the first attack against us.
This is where the war started.
In which case we've returned to its cradle of battle.
Now...
Issue an order to our frontline ships to fire their reserve mines.
Are you sure that's necessary?
The enemy's nowhere in sight.
Good surveillance should suffice.
We can't discount the possibility that they have an orbital fortress.
But you know that reserve mines are useless on orbital fortresses...
...Nereis?
I just want to be careful, that's all.
But why now?
You're usually the last one to be so cautious.
You've never been good at judging character.
You certainly can't judge your own.
Anyway, we're going to launch the mines.
Couldn't we at least do it on a smaller scale?
Why are you being so stingy?
It's not like we're paying for this ourselves.
Whomever's paying, I just don't like to see things wasted.
We have to celebrate the end of a long operation.
Let's end it with a flourish.
Actually, I really want all of the ships...
...to fire their mines, and not just the fighting ships.
There won't be any flourish if you can't see the explosions.
Why don't you let off a few fusion bombs in normal space?
It'll be a lot cheaper.
Well, you may be right about that.
However, that's not the point here.
Anyway, let's fire the mines.
If you insist.
Just don't forget I advised you that this was a complete waste.
We're not getting any response.
Reconnaissance squadron!
Enter the Vascotton Gate!
Transmission coming through!
No sign of enemy ships in the Vascotton System!
I don't think I ever said we'd find any enemies in there.
I was preparing for the worst...
...taking my responsibility as commander seriously.
I didn't say anything.
Your tongue was simply being lazy.
You had that usual smug look on your face.
A difference of opinion.
Hold on! The message continues!
''Confirming a large number of allied ships in the system.''
Allied ships?
Where did they come from?!
They must have come via the Iryuush Kingdom.
Damn it!
I never heard of any incursion from there!
If I remember, you were always obsessed with being the first one.
Well, I wanted the conquest of the Vascotton System...
...to be the climax of the story.
So much for that.
The climax of what story?
The second volume of my memoirs, of course.
Of course, how silly of me.
How could I not have realized that was what you meant?
Wandering into the system...
...after it's been conquered is not very exciting.
Don't you agree?
This fixation on your memoirs is completely childish!
I'd be embarrassed if word got out that the Bebaus family...
...finds honor only in being the first to do something.
What's childish about it?
Another thing...
...if people start thinking that we fight battles...
...only to glorify ourselves in our memoirs...
...I'll have to disown the Bebaus name.
It's one thing for the Bebaus family...
...to have a reputation for ''Spectacular Insanity''...
...but yours isn't spectacular.
You have a concept of dishonor?
It must be a unique one.
I would prefer to go back three generations...
...and stop the embarrassing behavior at its source.
But I can't even do that with my own brother.
How wise of you to realize that.
Now that you know what the situation is here...
...shouldn't you be issuing some orders?
Yes, you're right.
All ships!
Enter through the Vascotton Gate!
Open a channel to the enemy- I mean, to our friends.
Yes, sir.
What squadron is that?
This is commander-in-chief of the 2nd Fleet...
...Admiral Abriel.
I am commander-in-chief of the 4th Fleet of Operation Hunter...
...Admiral Bebaus.
It is a great honor to meet you, Your Royal Highness Clyuve.
This chance meeting that we have here...
...fills me with the same sentiment.
I would like to ask a question.
As you have already gained control of this system...
...why didn't you send a ship into Plane Space to keep guard?
We could have saved ourselves a lot of mines if we'd known.
You mean, it could've saved you from rejoicing prematurely...
We've only just arrived in the system ourselves, Admiral.
We were about to send a ship out into Plane Space...
...but there was this tempest of mine explosions.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the inventor of the identification system.
Flagship of the Light Snow Patrol Fleet, The Jemkau
Without that...
...there would have been no way...
...we could have avoided casualties from your mines.
By the way...
...I believe you've been taking care of my daughter, Admiral Bebaus.
Well, I wouldn't say that...
Besides, she is no longer under my command.
Has she done something wrong?
Not at all.
She's the territorial ambassador of the Lobnas System.
I don't know why...
...but she seems more interested in diplomacy than military service.
How unlike her.
Is it true?
Yes.
We withdrew our military from the area about three weeks ago...
...but she requested leave...
...and headed back there again.
Leave?
I did not know that.
Well, as for her situation...
...once the data upload is complete, you can check the details.
I suppose.
But enough about my daughter.
I'd like to hear what your next moves are.
We're awaiting further orders from Operation Hunter HQ.
Which means you currently don't have orders?
I'll leave all matters in regard to this system with you, then.
Our fleet will head for the Voorash System right away.
But, sir, wait a moment!
What about a territorial ambassador?
I said I'll leave that up to you.
However, Your Highness took control of this system first.
Therefore, it wouldn't make sense for us to provide an ambassador.
It doesn't seem like you're scarce in manpower.
Right...
Why don't you take up the position while you await your orders?
I was forced to do it myself when I was younger...
...and I have to admit I found it exceedingly boring.
I think it might be a good experience...
...to find out exactly how dull the job can be.
I see.
Of course there are exceptions.
I wish you the best.
But I won't have anyone to fight.
You'll have a fierce opponent waiting for you, called boredom!
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Take care, sir.
As soon as our fleet has finished regrouping...
...we'll head back through Keishu Gate 193.
Our destination is the Voorash System!
After Voorash we'll finally be able to recapture the Hyde System.
And at last I may be able to...
...repay the debt I owe to that young man.
I don't like cats.
They get old.
They don't seem to change in appearance much...
...but eventually they don't want to play anymore.
Yuluvia!
The next thing you know...
...their body has turned cold.
It happened to the only cat which belonged to me...
...out of many cats we had at our home.
After that, I swore I'd never have a cat again.
The Humankind Empire Abh Imperial Capital Lakfakalle
So he never returned.
I wonder if he's still alive?
Or has he gone to sleep forever?
The Abh age in a different way from cats.
Our bodies normally never look aged.
But gradually, we sleep longer and longer each night.
Until finally we never wake up again.
I've always wondered how Landers age.
Like a cat?
Or more like an Abh?
I want to ask him about it.
About what it feels like to grow old.
But he's still too young to be able to answer that with certainty.
Yes.
He was the first Lander I met...
...who was about my age.
That cat, or my ancestor of five generations back...
Which one passed away more peacefully?
Is he still alive?
Or has he passed away?
And if he is gone...
...will I feel the same as I felt back then?
I must keep going...
I have to survive.
And go back to the way things were.
When you didn't have to bear the burden of your duty.
When I didn't even know who I was.
When we were together back then.
Those were precious times.
I know we can't turn back the clock.
But I'm sure I can bring back the kind of relationship we had.
So...
I have to keep going.
As long as I'm alive.
Beyond this...
...I will find you.
I must keep going...
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
I must keep going...
Lafiel...
In my shallow sleep...
...I saw many dreams.
Always on land.
I saw the land of Martine...
...and then Dirkoto, as well as Klasbul.
Places that I'd only seen in pictures.
Places that I'd never even seen in a picture.
And...
And standing beside me...
Next Episode An Abriel's Tears ...during these dreams...
Next Episode An Abriel's Tears
...was always...