Imperial Calendar Year 955
As a result of the battle triggered by the Triple Alliance's invasion...
...the Humankind Abh Empire began a huge retaliation.
This retaliation was known as Operation Phantom Flame.
The Star Forces fleet of Operation Phantom Flame...
...has established a stronghold in the enemy's territory.
However, in response to the Alliance's counterattack...
Commander-in-Chief Commanding Admiral Abriel However, in response to the Alliance's counterattack...
Commander-in-Chief Commanding Admiral Abriel ...Operation Phantom Flame has entered a new phase...
...in which the objective is to annihilate the enemy fleet.
First Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral Spoor ...in which the objective is to annihilate the enemy fleet.
First Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral Spoor They await the Triple Alliance in the Aptic System...
They await the Triple Alliance in the Aptic System...
Second Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral of the Fleet Rulef ...soon to be the main battlefield.
While the size of the enemy fleet is expected to be 170 squadrons...
Fourth Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral of the Fleet Kotoponi While the size of the enemy fleet is expected to be 170 squadrons...
While the size of the enemy fleet is expected to be 170 squadrons...
Fifth Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral of the Fleet Rekef While the size of the enemy fleet is expected to be 170 squadrons...
Fifth Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral of the Fleet Rekef ...the defense forces of Admiral Bebaus consist of only twelve squadrons.
...the defense forces of Admiral Bebaus consist of only twelve squadrons.
Aptic Defense Fleet Commander Admiral Bebaus ...the defense forces of Admiral Bebaus consist of only twelve squadrons.
Given that they are outnumbered by almost fifteen-to-one...
...the two fleets have decided on the time of the decisive battle.
When I was a child...
...we always played the same game in the zero-gravity garden.
To win the game, you had to knock your opponent's lance away.
It sounds easy, but it was rare for a game to finish quickly.
The players repeatedly launch themselves at each other...
...until eventually one of them loses balance...
...and the lance gets knocked out of their hands.
For some reason, this game...
...was known as "jousting."
The Flaming Battlefield
Banner of the Stars
You're leaving?
The Humankind Empire Abh
The Humankind Empire Abh Yes, my term of office is due to end shortly.
I would like you, as Prime Minister...
Imperial Capital Lakfakalle ...to convey a message of farewell...
Imperial Capital Lakfakalle ...to Her Imperial Highness the Empress.
I'm sure that won't be a problem.
After all, the only country to have maintained ties with us...
...during the past three years was yours, the Federation of Hania.
Prime Minister...
...our nation has avoided establishing alliances...
...with certain respectable nations...
...since there is a war that is already in progress.
However, the fact remains that we are still members of the...
...Nova Sicily Treaty Organization.
Imperial Prime Minister Shidoryua Boruju Cid Seez I'm well aware of that, Ambassador.
Imperial Prime Minister Shidoryua Boruju Cid Seez But your country does act...
...quite differently from the other nations in the organization...
...so forgive me if that alliance happens to slip my mind at times.
Ambassador of Hania Guen Tauron Oh?
Ambassador of Hania Guen Tauron How do we act differently?
The other countries...
...have a tendency to trivialize any differences in our political systems.
However...
...there is a vast difference that has resulted...
...in a gap between those other countries and our Empire.
Does this have anything to do with you, a Lander...
...wanting to achieve the highest rank in the Empire?
You could put it that way.
However...
...what do you think of this for a reason?
The power of this Empire...
...is the only force that can impose modernity...
...onto the surface worlds.
Do you follow me?
I'm not sure what you're suggesting.
Really?
No.
I suppose it would be wrong for me to doubt you.
Assault units!
Pull back!
Our ship, the Basroil...
...was still in the middle of a battle to defend the Aptic Gate.
With the guard ships up front...
...things are quite a bit easier on us.
Yes.
Did the ship suffer any damage?
The armor plating was hit in twenty-three places...
...and there were small pressure leaks in seven of those.
But they've already been taken care of.
What about propulsion and armaments?
No problems to report.
All personnel are alive and accounted for.
Thank goodness for that!
Incoming message.
All ships in the First Assault Unit!
We are to make a temporary retreat.
Approval has been given by battle HQ.
No way!
Commander!
My ship can still fight!
Deca-Commander Abriel...
I'm afraid you don't understand.
We can make a retreat...
...precisely because we can still fight.
If you haven't seen enough fighting, don't worry.
We'll be back soon enough.
I understand.
That's good.
If there are no more objections...
...we'll begin to retreat at maximum battle speed.
I'll transmit the route information.
Excuse me.
Captain?
Ah, yes...
Retreat.
The shame of it!
Taste good?
Maybe a nice cold drink would be good right now.
So I brought you one.
But maybe you prefer your own blood.
What do you take me for?
At times like this I can understand how one might thirst for blood.
Although I never feel that way.
Me neither.
So you weren't thirsting for blood, after all.
No!
You don't have to deny it so strenuously.
Captain!
Sorry to be so tacky, but...
...can the crew get permission to remove their pressure suits?
The danger has passed for the moment...
...and working in those suits can be fairly uncomfortable.
Sorry, I didn't realize.
Permission granted.
Thank you very much.
And what did you mean by "tacky"?
Oh, nothing.
It seemed like you two were having fun back there.
It appears that...
...we severely underestimated the number of mines the enemy had...
The mine attacks are still going on?
Such a senseless way to fight!
I'd rather win senselessly...
...than to lose because we were being sensible.
That goes for me, too!
But right now...
...we don't have much say over how we choose to fight.
Our patrol ships will undoubtedly run out of mines.
Give them permission to use the electromagnetic cannons.
Yes, I suppose that's the most sensible response.
Before you change your mind...
...and come up with some senseless idea...
...I'll get that order out right away.
Three hours until the main fleet arrives.
I hope we can hang on.
Our forces still have control of the Aptic region.
The Fourth Fleet, going in from the right flank...
...can split the path between Wimpel and Aptic.
Once the enemy passes, Admiral Kotoponi can close off that route.
Admiral Rulef's Second Fleet, heading in from the left...
...has secured the Mystel Gate...
...and is approaching the Aptic Gate.
Mystel will be safe now.
Let Admiral Mulusafa know that he can come out of hiding.
As soon as he receives his orders...
...the Mystel Defense Fleet...
...will become the Seventeenth Fleet of Operation Phantom Flame.
Yes, sir.
Looks like we'll arrive just in time.
That reminds me...
...we've got Viscountess Paryunu stationed in the Aptic region.
And the young Count Hyde.
I hear they're both onboard the same ship.
I hope those two are still alive.
If they were to die...
...I don't think I would be able to sleep at night.
Hey, I'm not getting anymore output!
A little to the right.
No, left! Left!
You're not my mother, you know!
Hey, hey!
Take it easy on that.
This engine room's a delicate creature.
Treat it like you are petting a cat.
Okay!
Anyway, please load as much as you can.
We don't know when we're going to be resupplying again.
Diaho?
I'll get you out of there.
Just sit still.
You shouldn't wander around too much.
If the crew were to abandon ship...
...you might get left behind.
Although...
...I hope we never have to abandon ship.
In the same way that you, as a princess...
...have your responsibilities to your subjects...
...as an officer of the Star Forces...
...I have my responsibilities to my crew.
The Princess.
So much for doing her a favor.
Have I really...
...got what it takes to be captain of this ship?
You think so?
No.
I just can't trust your opinion.
The situation is getting more serious by the minute.
It looks like the patrol ships are running out of ammunition.
Running out of ammunition?
But we were planning to...
...save the electromagnetic cannons until the enemy ships arrived.
I can't believe this.
What are we going to do?
Haven't you got any ideas?
We'll have to conserve.
You don't seriously expect me to order the fleet to do that?
That's humiliating.
It's less humiliating than losing ships because we ran out of ammo.
Wouldn't you agree?
I know.
We'll issue an order forbidding all ships...
...from using electromagnetic cannons against the mines.
But that will increase the burden on the guard ships.
Nothing we can do about that.
Once the enemy arrives...
...the guard ships can pull back.
They can then take a break.
I suppose you're right.
Commander!
A large number of enemy ships is coming through the Sord!
Finally, the battle is about to enter a new phase.
Guard ships to retreat immediately!
Well, did the enemy run out of ammunition too?
We're not talking about the same thing!
Even if the enemy has used up their mines...
...they still have plenty of nuclear-fusion bombs.
I know that, Nereis.
Don't you think sometimes it's nice to know you had the upper hand?
This is the battle you've all been waiting for!
Mines and patrol ships...
We've been dealing with petty opponents so far.
This time we're dealing with enemy assault vessels!
If any of you don't keep up, I'll take it as a personal insult!
I wonder if I'll ever be able to...
...feel completely calm during a battle.
In any case...
...we won't have to worry about dormant mines any more.
Yes.
With the data from Command...
...we're in a position to identify them now.
We can let the second aviator deal with them.
This is Captain Mooniju of the 2107th Guard Fleet!
We're under attack from enemy assault vessels!
Request backup immediately!
All ships proceed at maximum battle speed!
Cut off the enemy fleet from the guard ships!
Main engine, full power!
There are six enemy ships.
We're at a disadvantage, but it can't be helped.
We'll identify the enemy ships from right as enemies one through six.
We all attack enemy six first.
And then turn around and attack enemy one!
Yes, Commander!
The enemy is in a cluster formation with enemy six in the middle!
Fire!
Enemy six successfully destroyed!
We're about to go through the debris field!
Ship's temperature rising!
Still rising!
A danger of armor meltdown!
Do something about it!
Do what?
Increase cooling capacity in all systems by fifty percent!
Three... two... one.
We've passed through!
Come about!
Lafiel! We're too far away!
Well, the enemy ships have turned around as well!
That means they want to continue fighting!
Everyone, hang in there!
Our next target is enemy one!
Main engine! Ęgnite!
When I was a child...
...I wondered why jousting was such a fun game.
It must all be because of this.
The enemy is approaching again in cluster formation.
Calling all ships.
Our goal is to reduce their numbers so that we're on an even footing.
If we can't do that, we'll have to retreat.
Understand?
If we don't end up retreating, we set our sights on enemy three.
The unit commander can be surprisingly cautious.
I feel relieved.
What did you expect?
Because we struck first...
...we were able to go from four- against-six to four-against-five.
We need at least that to take them on.
If we lose and it becomes three-against-five...
...we wouldn't stand a chance.
You're right.
Enemy approaching!
The enemy ships appear to be targeting the Gamroil!
Fire!
Use the laser cannons!
Where's the Gamroil?
We're fine.
There's a change in plan!
Target your attack on enemy one!
We're going to finish it off!
I want all ships to turn around!
Captain!
The engines can't take this!
Let it rest after the battle!
Okay!
Captain!
Enemy one is retreating toward the Aptic Gate!
Looks like we caused more damage than we thought!
Now it's four-against-four.
Another change in plan!
We're going to take out enemy three!
It is my firm belief that...
...the Star Forces cannot lose when matched up with equal numbers!
And certainly not my squadron!
And not my ship!
Come about!
We're all starting to run out of fuel and ammunition.
If we can't destroy enemy three in the next attack...
...then we'll have to retreat.
Understood?
Don't hesitate in pulling out.
I'm not running away.
Lafiel...
Enemy ships approaching!
I've never...
...I've never lost in jousting!
You going to fire at me?
All personnel! Brace for attack!
Arrival of the main fleet... one hour to go.
Kizukanai koto ga The things I did not notice
konnani takusan aru I didn't know there were so many
kyoumade no jibun ga I think of myself until today
nasakenaku omoete To be so pathetic
kuyashii kurai It's almost frustrating
haritsumeta kimochi ga This tense feeling
massugu ni muite ireba As long as I keep facing forward
setsunasa no nukumori This momentary warmth
hajimete shitta I understood it for the first time
kimi ga iruto When you are there
itsumo pink no namida ga nagareteru The pink tears are always flowing
kono mune no naka wo afureteru My heart is brimming with it
kimi ga dokoni itemo dareto hanashitemo Wherever you are and whoever you talk to
issho ni itaiyo soba ni ite I want to be with you, to be near you
tsunaida te kara yubisaki kara From our linked hands and our finger tips
karadajuu no omoi binetsu tsutawatte My body heat transmits the feelings inside
tomerarenai And I cannot stop it
Do you want us to just sit here...
...and wait while the enemy goes ahead and destroys us, Nefee?
Where do you think you're going?
It would be a great dishonor to know that I'd let my men die in vain.
At the very least I would like to choose where I end my life.
Permission granted to take any action necessary!
All crew! Abandon ship!
Next Episode... The Battle for Aptic Gate Begins