What Lies Beyond
Exiting the elevator and to the bridge, Kodai watches as the Czvarke banks its wings up and down, a gesture of goodbye and prompts a smile on his face.
He waves his hand, seeing the Gamilan fighter accelerating away into the distance.
"Change course. We're leaving the area.", Abraham ordered.
"…Roger.", Shima affirmed, pushing the throttle forward and the stick to the right.
—
30 March 2199
Montana continues its journey to save Earth, traveling through deep space. In the Navigation Room, within the hull of the battleship, Chief Navigator Shima is giving Abraham and the section chiefs an up-to-date rundown of their current progress to Iscandar.
Navigation Room
"This is Montana's current location.", Shima points out, his finger aiming at a blipping dot on a map leading away from the Solar System, their starting line. Between are various dots where Montana has warped, as well as key events like the Jupiter Floating Continent, the Pluto Assault, and the escape from the Dimensional Fault line.
"And our next warp will take us out of the Milky Way Galaxy.", Shima continued, a new window popping up showing they will leave the Milky Way's Outer Rim, thus departing from the galaxy altogether. "41 kiloparsecs separate our galaxy and the Large Magellanic Cloud. In other words, we still have about 130,000 light-years of unknown space ahead of us."
Abraham nodded his head in understanding. "Hmm, I see. This is just a step in the path not yet traveled."
"Once we're beyond the Milky Way, our enemy will likely stop pursuing us.", Sanada spoke up. "Or at the least, the Milky Way forces will stop."
"Why do you say that?", Tokugawa asked."
This time, Niimi explained. "When you consider the conditions required for civilization, ie. the number of star systems like our Solar System, it's possible that planet Gamilas exists within our galaxy."
"Although, that is based on our still limited understanding of the Milky Way. Most likely, Gamilas is located much further out in the Large Magellanic Cloud as evidenced by Queen Starsha explicitly mentioning Garmillians in her message.", Sanada refuted, rubbing his chin.
"That means that we'll be facing more enemy forces as we continue our journey.", Kodai concluded. He then crossed his arms and relaxed a little.
"Still, it's still good to have the Gamilans off our backs, either way. At least, for a little while."
"You're so relaxed, it amazes me…", Shima sarcastically mutters, which is picked up by Kodai.
"What do you mean?", Kodai asked with raised brows.
"I'm saying that you shouldn't be taking it so easy.", Shima retorted.
"W-Wait a minute! What makes you think that I'm taking it easy?", Kodai defended himself, arms raised.
"You are being naively idealistic."
"Are you talking about Melda?"
"She's a Gamilan!"
"She has nothing to do with this!"
As both men shout at each other with rising intensity, the staff watch on with various degrees of wariness. The women watch with hands covering their mouths, afraid of a possible fight. Tokugawa and Sanada watch on with worried looks, the former more visibly so, while Abraham's brows continue to furrow closer and closer. Nambu and Ota desperately wave to one another in a message to stop their superiors from tearing each other apart, but both are too afraid of being in the crossfire.
"So you believe what she said, don't you?", Shima angrily claims, approaching Kodai. "That we fired first!"
"When did I say that?!", Kodai returned in equal anger, meeting Shima mid-way.
"Well, you basically said so!"
"H-hey, why don't we calm down and—"
Nambu's attempt at peacekeeping is violently interrupted by both men as they direct their anger at the poor gunner instead.
"YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
"YOU TWO FOOLS, SHUT THE HELL UP!"
Luckily, Nambu is spared from Kodai and Shina's wrath by Abraham having enough of the childish bickering and unleashing his wrath at the two chief officers.
Both men, feeling the raw anger from their captain, stop and nervously cower before Abraham's furious gaze, his breath both audible and visible from his nostrils.
—
Medical Ward, Dr. Sado's office
Later, Abraham is putting on his clothes as Dr. Sado is examining the medical results of the captain.
"Your blood pressure is a bit high, but that shouldn't be a concern. Everything else checks out.", the bald doctor concluded.
"Got it, I'll try to control my temper better.", Abraham answered, butting up his belt and clipping the buttons of his coat.
"By the way, I heard about it."
"Hmm?"
"The young ones lose their tempers easily.", Dr. Sado said, turning his chair to face the captain. "Like you said, you have to control yourself, too."
Abraham cracked a smile and donned his hat. "Sometimes, I feel like you always know what I'm thinking."
—
Montana, Wave Motion Gun muzzle
"Curse him…"
Out in the Wave Motion Gun's rifled nozzle and wearing an EVA suit, Kodai is cursing up a storm as he mops the grooves of the Gun as if his life depended on it.
"You're lacking the self-awareness and emotional maturity required of an officer.", Kodai mockingly recalls Abraham's words as he continues to mop. "Tch, this is what they do to punish elementary school children."
Finishing another groove, Kodai turns to face Shima, who's upside down before him. Or rather, it's Kodai who is upside down as Shima, who's staring out into space, is standing on the base of the Gun.
"Hey, Shima. Let's finish this up and hit the next one."
"I'm done.", is Shima's even response.
"There's a limited-time Milky Way lunch they're serving in the cafeteria. Want to try it?", Kodai offered, but Shima only continued to stare out into space ahead.
At the lack of response, Kodai continues to mop on his lonesome. "Honestly…"
—
Engine Room
In the Wave Motion Engine's control room, Yamazaki explains to Tokugawa why Shima went all emotional earlier.
"I see. So you told Shima.", Tokugawa said. "And that's what had him so upset."
"Yeah.", Yamazaki nodded.
"Do you regret it?"
"No, he's Captain Daigo's son. He'll accept the truth. That is what I believe."
Tokugawa nods his head at Yamazaki's confidence. Yabu, who overheard the conversation, piped up with his two cents.
"I don't know about the Chief Navigator, but people in high positions can be surprisingly fragile. Well, I'll be off then."
Yabu salutes and leaves the room for his counseling session, leaving behind a pensive Yamazaki. Tokugawa, being the good man that he is, puts his hands on the taller engineer's shoulder as a show of support.
—
Inside one of the rooms that's being used as a makeshift counselling room, Niimi is wrapping up her session with Yabu. After learning about what happened before, she decided to put her Psychotherapy and Counselling Degree to good use.
"I see. What are your thoughts on Shima's outburst?"
"I suppose I understand what Navigator Shima is going through. I mean, if I was told that everything I believed in was a lie, I would go mad, too."
"Shima has a lot of… pent-up frustrations, let's say. Well, let's finish this off with this. What are your thoughts on saving Earth?"
"There are up and down moments, I admit. But I firmly believe that we will bring Earth back under Abraham's leadership."
Niimi smiles. "Thank you. I'm glad to hear that."
"You're welcome. Please excuse me."
Yabu salutes and leaves the room in a good mood. As the door closes, Niimi gazes on a profile on Daisuke Shima and her mood drops when she opens a video file of a certain event and presses the play button.
—
Planet Gamilas, Dessler's Palace
Walking through a hallway to their leader's personal chamber, Celestella and Gimleh are on their way to meet with Dessler.
Approaching the doors to the chamber, two female security guards bar them from entering. One of the guards with straight blond hair spoke.
"I'm sorry. His Lordship is using the hotline right now."
"As such, he shan't be disturbed.", the other guard with wavy blond hair added.
"The hotline?", Celestella asked before realizing and becoming agitated. "Out of the way."
"But—"
"Out of the way! Now!"
The guards look at Gimleh, who nods his head in consent. The two guards then open the door and move out of the way.
Entering the chamber with flowing purple drapes at both sides, they hear the chuckles of Dessler behind the drapes.
"Hehehe. It seems I misunderstood. I thought you'd gone back to your old tricks out of pity for them.", Dessler spoke to the phone, the handset to his ear while the phone was held up by a staff member. All the while playing a game of Gamilan Chess.
Glancing at a blue planet in the distance above him through the skylight, Dessler continued. "You are my country's heart and soul. Naturally, I'm worried."
His eyes then subtly trail toward the curtains and spot a shadowy figure swiftly moving behind them. Naturally, he continued to speak as if he wasn't being overheard.
"Peace in the universe is only possible because of our friendship…Yes?… Next, I'd like to speak to you in person. We'll talk again some other time."
With that, Dessler hangs up the phone and addresses the two elephants in the room. "What brings you two here?"
At his words, Celestella and Gimleh step forth from the drapes. The Propaganda Minister begins her report.
"Preparations for Senior General Domel's medal ceremony have been completed."
Dessler pleasantly smiled at the news. "Very well. What about you, Gimleh?"
"I've come to report the secret police's latest findings regarding the rogue elements within the empire.", Gimleh said.
"I shall leave this to you. Handle it in any way as you wish."
Gimleh accepts the request with a devilish grin. "I will take care of it."
"More importantly…"
Typing on a keypad, the digital chess game Dessler was playing disappears from his table and a holographic rendering of his new piece of interest loads up before him.
The Terron battleship, Montana.
"This is the Terron ship, yes?", Cellastella asked, seeing the battleship as it slowly rotated.
"Where are they heading?", Dessler asked. "What is the end of their journey?
It appears we've found out."
At his conclusion, Dessler and his two lackeys all look up at the blue planet above. The former cracks a smile as he gazes up.
—
(Yamato 2199 OST — Praise be Our Eternal Glory)
Belerus City
Fanfare plays as a huge crowd of civilians, up to the thousands, gathering in the capital to welcome their nation's hero back to Gamilas. In the air, fighters fly above the crowd in a show of aerobatics.
Sitting in a hover limousine protected between two APCs, General Domel lowers the tinted windows and waves to the people as they cheer him on.
"Ghale Domel! Ghale Domel!", the crowd chants and waves their arms as the revered general continues to the city center.
Unexpectedly to the nearby guards, a young girl squeezes through the crowd and runs towards the limo, a bouquet in her arms. Spotted by said guards, they quickly begin pursuit of the child.
Domel, smiling and waving to the crowd, soon spots the running girl approaching his location. Alarmed, he immediately calls the limo driver. "Driver, stop the car."
"Yes, general."
Coming to a halt, Domel opens the door and steps out of the limo, just in time for the little girl to stop before him, panting after a run from the sidelines.
"General Domel!", the girl greeted happily after catching her breath.
Seeing a pair of guards approaching, Domel gently gestures them to stand down, seeing the harmless girl as not a threat. Bending down to his knee, the revered general gives a warm smile and accepts the bouquet from the girl.
"Thank you."
Seeing such compassion from the almighty hero, the crowd cheered with fevered intensity.
"GHALE DOMEL! GHALE DOMEL! GHALE DOMEL!"
—
Escorted by two officers, Domel eventually arrives before Dessler's Palace and walks up the many steps.
Arriving at the top, the Eternal Leader himself is clapping serenely as Domel approaches him. Behind, Dessler's command staff clap as well as the General walks towards the leader.
Now before the great leader, Domel salutes and greets. "Ghale Phuzeron!"
Dessler returns the salute and goes right into explaining Domel's recall.
"You're probably wondering why I've recalled you from the front lines."
"The Small Magellanic Cloud is the lynchpin of our defenses. The absence of a commanding officer aids the enemy."
"There has been a problem within the Milky Way Theatre."
"I've heard of the rumors. A Terron ship has broken through our dragnet. And Shultz fell in battle against them."
As both men talk, a young boy approaches with a medal resting on a cushion in his hands. Raising the cushion, Dessler takes the medal and pins it on Domel's uniform.
"I would like for you to take care of this barbarian ship.", Dessler requested with a smile, taking a step back. "Will you go?"
Domel accepts. "If that is your order. I am a soldier, loyal to you and the Empire."
Dessler gladly smiles and nods in agreement. With that, Domel turns and descends the stairs, the crowd clapping and cheering once more.
Zoellik chose this moment to ham things up a bit, clapping extra loudly and boasting. "Hurrah to the shining star of Garmillas!"
The Inspector General's exaggerated praise prompts a sideways glance from Celestella, aware of Zoellic's distaste of Domel and her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
—
Evening
Belerus, Autoban
Driving through a three-lane motorway, a limousine carrying Domel, Velte Talan, and Gul Dietz, speeds along the evening shore, the sun dipping below the horizon. Approaching the opposite way is a convoy of ground tanks.
"A promotion to High Chief General? What concerns me is your popularity among the people.", Talan commented with concern.
Dietz added his thoughts, equally worried. "Be wary. Many of those who surround His Lordship do not think well of your rise. Goer, your new direct subordinate, is one of "Sideburns" Zoelik's lackeys."
Domel waves off these troubles. "I'm not interested in politics."
Despite the reassurance, Dietz and Talan both give each other worried glances. Domel takes this moment to look out of the window, seeing many Gamilan warships patrolling the skies with the bright city lights from Balerus in the distance.
"…Balerus has changed.", Domel said, his eyes locked on to the city. Talon took this chance to bring up the mood a little, changing the subject.
"Oh, I was glad to hear that your Melda is safe.", Talon congratulated Dietz.
"Bah! My daughter is very inconsiderate. She refuses to share any details.", Dietz grumbled, feeling a little miffed.
"See that Elk? Even the mighty Admiral Dietz has a weakness.", Talon joked with a smirk, much to Dietz's chagrin.
"Q-quiet, Talon!"
Domel returns the gesture with a smirk of his own, before falling into a serious frown. "I have a request, Admiral."
Dietz turns to face the general with a questioning hum.
"Could you lend me that specialized operations ship?"
Dietz is visibly surprised, his brows rising to his fading hairline. "That ship?"
—
Right then and there, the limo slows down to a stop. Out in front of the windshield, an imperial guard checkpoint is in operation and a pair of guards put their hands out for the limo to stop. One of the guards goes forward to the driver's side.
"What's wrong?", Dietz asked, seeing the vehicle coming to a stop.
"Imperial Guard checkpoint.", the limo driver answered, rolling down his window.
"Your identification.", the guard requested, to which the driver simply looked back over his shoulder and rolled down the rear windows. Seeing the trio of officers in the back, the guard immediately stands to attention.
"Excuse me."
"Has something happened?", Talan asked the guard.
"Sabotage at the Floating Plant."
At that answer, the three officers turn to the left of the limo and see groups of people in chain-linked handcuffs being forcefully loaded onto three 0military transport ships.
"What are those?", asks Domel.
"Rebel forces we found.", answered the guard.
"They look like ordinary citizens.", Domel commented, seeing one Imperial officer grabbing a straggling prisoner by the arm and roughly shoving him into the transport.
"It doesn't matter. Director Gimleh has ordered that they all be sent to the prison planet.", the guard dismissed Domel's worries and then stepped away from the limo. "Please pass through. Ghale Dessler!"
—
The limo speeds off away from the three transports, their rear cargo doors closed and lifting from the ground. The three all share a moment of apprehension as they spot the transports blast off into the air.
"Damn that man.", Dietz curses.
"You were right. Balerus has changed.", Talan confirmed Domal's beliefs.
Domel, meanwhile, remained silent, immersed in his thoughts.
—
Later…
"You want to be left here?"
Standing before a stone arch, Domel says his goodbyes to Dietz and Talon, the latter making sure this is where the general wants to stop.
"Yes."
"What we discussed earlier, I will take care of it.", Dietz assures Domel through the open doors.
"Thank you.", thanked Domel, then stepped back to allow the limo doors to close.
As the limo drives off, Donel raises his hand in salute. Seeing the limo gone on the horizon, he felt a drop of water landing on his cheek and looked up at the now cloudy sky. It has begun to rain.
—
"Are you sure? The Leader's permission is required to use that ship.", Talan asked Dietz, the limo driving off.
"I am the Supreme Commander of the Astrofleets.", the Admiral confidently replied.
Talan only turned his head in faux ignorance. "I'll pretend I never asked."
"…The Imperial Marshal continues to expand our territory, and that Jirel witch continues to spread Dessler's propaganda."
"The Vice-Commander is a figurehead, the Guard's arrogance is astonishing. And our leader…"
Talan gives a dramatic pause as he sees three Destoria-class warships take off into space, before continuing.
"…has plans to move the capital."
"To move the capital? To move Balerus?", Dietz asked in astonishment.
"…A great unification. Where have we come from, and where are we going?"
"Stop playing the philosopher."
—
Far behind in the rain, Domel turns and walks under the stone archway revealed to be the entrance to a cemetery. In his hand is the bouquet he received from the little girl earlier.
Trekking his way past rows and rows of gravestones, Domel stops as he sees a blond woman standing a few feet away in front of a gravestone. On her shoulder is a large feathered bird, crying a short caw before flying and landing on Domel's extending arm.
Domel walks forward to the woman's side, the bird now on his shoulder.
"I didn't think you remembered this day.", the woman, his wife Elisa, spoke, looking at the gravestone. "But, I'm glad you did."
Crouching down to his knees, Elk picks out a flower from his bouquet and places it beside a white bouquet, already placed by his wife. Inscribed on the grave, it read pit the deceased's name of his and Elisa's son:
Johann Domel
The bird took this moment to fly off from Elk's shoulder and glide above two boys nearby, who excitedly gave chase.
"Look! It's a rokrohk bird!", one of the boys exclaimed.
"Come down here!", the other beckoned, both jumping and waving their hands up in the hope of catching it.
Away from the boys, the Domal couple longingly watch as their rokrohk bird plays with the children.
"If he were alive, he'd be their age by now.", Elisa commented. "What did our leader want?"
"He ordered me to command the Milky Way Theatre's armies.", Elk spoke, his Dessler Cross medal gleaming under the moonlit sky.
Meanwhile, the rokrohk bird begins to playfully tap at the two boys' heads with his talons, much to their annoyance.
"Hey!"
"Stop that!"
One of the boys then spots General Domel and elbows his buddy. Both turn to stand at attention and salute in respect, the rokrohk bird landing on the beanie of one of the boys. Domel salutes back, smiling that he's not offended in any way.
Eliese the lowly spoke, "The Milky Way is far from here."
Domel loses his smile and replies, "Yes."
"…So very far…"
"…Yes…"
Elisa moves her hand to Elk's, who takes it and clasps their fingers together. Eliese gently leans closer onto her husband's broad shoulders, their visage reflecting off the puddles that pooled up on the ground.
—
Dessler's Palace
Alone in his chamber, Dessler sits on his sofa as he continues to look at his chess game in thought.
"Before long, we shall be one.", he said to himself, moving one of his black pieces to take out one of his opponent's white pieces. Leaning back, he smiles as he looks up at the blue planet above him.
"Stay there and watch, as the wolf I released catches its prey in its jaws..."
—
Læt!Pšøh,
Hazy whispers are in the air as Misaki, puzzled and in her orange Montana crew uniform, walks into one of the hallways to a hospital reception room.
Continuing forward, she enters another hallway in which a door to her left opens and out walks Dr. Sado alongside a group of doctors in tow.
"They survived, but it seems they are suffering from amnesia…", one of the doctors reports to Sado, who rubbed his chin in concern.
"What a terrible accident.", Dr. Sado sighed, and another doctor spoke up.
"Rumor has it that it's a terrorist attack."
"Sado-sensei?", Misaki asked, now suddenly in a nurse's uniform, and bowed when the group approached her, only to pass by without seemingly recognizing her.
Misaki straightened in surprise as she saw Dr. Sado's group continue walking away. She turned in curiosity at the door the short doctor exited from. A plaque numbered 204 is beside the door, and inside is a card labeled: Yuki Mori.
Eyes widening in recognition, she opens the door to spot a dark room with a bed on the opposite end. Misaki enters the room only for a yip of shock leaving her lips as the door closes behind her, the room going dark. Only the sound of a breathing machine and a life support monitor beeping accompanies her as she slowly approaches the bed, revealing a bedridden Yuki Mori on life support.
—
Auto Nav Room
Shigeru Hayashi is typing away on a computer terminal in the Auto Nav Room, humming as he types his checks.
"Hmm…Auto Navigation Systems are all clear. No faults detected.", Hayashi spoke, before a flicker of blue light flashed from a viewport to the orange hatch of the Auto Nav chamber.
"Huh..?"
His attention is caught, confusion turned to fear as the blue flash crackles into a figure. Hayashi gasps as the blue figure' features are formed, now feminine with long flowing hair and naked as the day she was born.
—
Now beside the bed, Misaki watches in disbelief at her bedridden idol. Behind her, however, a blue pale figure manifests.
As if sensing the figure's presence, Misaki quickly turns around and screams in fear as the blue female figure suddenly moves towards her.
"AAAAHHHHHHH—"
—
Women Crew Quarters
"—AAAAHHHHHH!"
Screaming from her bunk, Misaki thrashes under her sheets before suddenly waking upright in her bed. Sweat drips from her skin as her fears subside when she realizes that she's in her shared quarters.
"Ugh…", a groan emitted from above in the top bunk before its occupant's head, Harada, drops to look at Misaki.
"What's wrong? Have a weird dream?", Harada groggily asked, her eyes barely open from being suddenly awoken with bed hair all over.
"Y-Yeah. Uh, a dream…about a beautiful woman.", Misaki nervously answered, clutching her pillow in front of her chest.
"If she was beautiful, it was a good dream.", Harada answered with a slur, and then her face disappeared from view as she slid back up to her bed.
"No! No no no, wait!"
Misaki clambers off her bed and moves up to Harada's bunk, trying to explain. Whatever words quickly died in her throat when she saw the nurse now fast asleep, her duvet haphazardly covering her body.
Seeing no point in continuing, Misaki sighs and climbs down from the bunk before sitting down at the edge of her bed, the image of the blue figure still in her mind.
—
Later, Medical Ward
Kodai, still on punishment duty, continues to mop the floor. Now in the Medical Ward, he can't help but overhear a conversation nearby.
"Eh?! You too, Hayashi?"
"Yeah! It was a really beautiful woman, too."
Harada expresses her shock at Hayashi giving his recount in the Auto Nav room. Despite her groggy state last night, she remembers Misaki talking about her dream. Beside her, Dr. Sado listens in on Hayashi's testimony.
"The Auto Nav room, huh?", Harada said, crossing her arms.
"It looked just like her!", Hayashi insisted.
"Overwork,", was Sado's quick diagnosis, turning around to type in his computer.
"But they say that the room's haunted.", Harada pointed out, then her expression and tone darkened comedically. "I wouldn't be surprised if there were a ghost…"
"No, it wasn't that kind of ghost.", Hayashi corrected, which was received with a slap to his cheek by the nurse.
"How am I supposed to know!?"
"And she was naked, as well!"
A slap to Hayashi's forehead this time.
"Don't take her clothes off!"
"Both of you, quiet!", Dr. Sado reprimanded the two bickerers behind him, his patience now ran thin. Grabbing a bottle, he spins around and throws it to Hayashi. "You! Stop being stupid, take this pill, and go to sleep!"
Grabbing the bottle, Hayashi spins it around in his hand to read the label, rattling noises can be heard from the bottle.
"Tranquilizer?", Hayashi read out in confusion.
"Yes! Now go!"
As Hayashi leaves the medical ward, he mutters to himself.
"She looks just like Mori and Sasha…"
"Maybe he should be looking for Niimi instead of us.", Harada commented, Sado' shoulders sagging as he calms down. The sudden sound of the door opening can be heard.
"Sensei."
A new voice spoke up, revealing to be Kodai entering with a mop in his hand.
"I've finished cleaning up the patient's room.", Kodai reports.
"Oh, good work.", the doctor praised, gesturing Kodai to come forward.
The Tactical Officer takes out his task card hanging from his neck and hands it to Sado, who stamps it. The card shows that Kodai now has completed six out of the ten rooms tasked with cleaning up.
—
Brigs
Dark and alone, Akira Yamamoto sit on the bed of her solitary confinement. A few beeps are heard form the door and her head rises up to see Hoshina at the opposite end of the now-opened door.
"Ensign Yamamoto, you are now released from the brig.", Hoshina told Yamamoto, then saluted. "I'm sure it was a rough six days."
Standing up and leaving her cell, Yamamoto leaves the brigs and looks up in surprise as her pilot jacket is handed over to her. Behind it are Kato and Shinohara, both leaning on a wall and the former holding up the jacket.
"Just don't do anything else stupid.", Kato told her, handing over the jacket closer to Yamamoto.
Yamamoto only looked down in guilt and shame with her hands behind her back, "We lost a valuable ship…"
"Your safety is much more important.", Shinohara sternly spoke up, surprising the woman as Shinohara is usually pretty laid back. Kato only smiles as he throws the jacket to Yamamoto.
"Yeah, that's how it goes in this line of work.", Kato said, the jacket now caught in the white-haired woman's arms.
—
Later, Hanger 2
The sounds of harmonica to the tunes of "Scarlet Scarf" resonate throughout the empty hanger. Sitting in the open cockpit of one of the Arwings, Kodai blows into his harmonica as he plays away. On his task card, he only has one stamp left before his punishment is done.
"You finished your punishment?"
A woman's voice breaks out Kodai from his playing, and turning his head left to see Mori climbing up and leaning forward into the Arwing's cockpit.
"Yep, everything's spick and spam here.", was Kodai's response. Mori then decided to make herself comfortable and used the Arwing's left fin as a makeshift seat.
"You were playing your harmonica again. Scarlet Scarf?", Mori asked.
"Yeah, helps me relax.", Kodai answered as he looked at his harmonica.
"Really?… Hey, you think I'd be able to pilot this Arwing like Yamamoto does?", Mori asked Kodai, switching topics as she rubbed the Arwing's fin.
Kodai's response was a quick and dry laugh. "Haha, nope!"
At such a reply, Mori can't help but face-vault.
"Wha-What do you mean, "nope"!?"
The brunette only smiles and looks back down. "You're here because of her, right?"
At that same moment, the doors open and in enters Yamamoto, who quickly hides behind a wall once she hears the sound of Kodai speaking.
"I don't want to believe it, either. I lost my family to their attacks, too…And my brother nearly died in battle, probably not knowing he was just a decoy until Abraham saved him at the last moment."
"Kodai…"
Mori's face falls to a despondent frown as she has no words to comfort Kodai. The Tactical Officer looks up and spots Mori's sad look on her face.
"…Hey, don't look like that, it doesn't suit you. I've already come to terms in my mind. Right now, I'll just trust Captain Abraham."
Kodai then leans back to the Arwing's seat, his eyes gazing up to the ceiling.
"But I'm not like him. He has a bigger family to protect."
—
Leaning against the wall of a hallway with a mop and bucket beside him, Shima looks at his lucky charm in his hand, brows furrowed and in deep thought.
Written on the charm is "Safe Travels" in kanji.
—
"In a sense, I'm a little jealous."
"…You can make a new family."
"Huh?"
Mori's words prompt Kodai to look at the blonde in surprise. The woman gave the Tactical Officer a heartfelt smile as she continued.
"Everyone on this ship is your family."
Giving the words some thought, Kodai smiles in agreement. "Yeah, you're right."
At that moment, Yamamoto took this as a cue to leave the hanger, hands in her jacket pockets.
—
Engine Room
Continuing to mop away, Shima cleaned up the walkways, grime, and dust washed out by the wet mop. Beside him at the control panel, Tokugawa resides to strike up a conversation.
"Don't you have a mother and a brother, young Shima?", Tokugawa asked.
Pausing his mopping, Shima looked up and nodded.
"My eldest has a wife and child, and then I've another son.", the senior engineer continued. "My second son says he wants to be a sailor like me."
"A sailor?", Shima asked curiously. "But, there isn't any…?"
"Yeah. Why be a sailor when there aren't any ships left to sail."
"But isn't it nice anyway? To hear that your child wants to follow your footsteps?"
Tokugawa hummed and crossed his arms, before speaking. "Hmm…Nope. I'm more interested in my grandchild."
"…eh?"
With an utmost serious expression, Tokugawa turned and spoke to Shima. "She's very cute. I can't die until I find her a good husband."
"Won't be easy to find someone who meets your standards…", the Chief Navigator nervously replied, then backing up when Tokugawa marched up to him with his hands clasped together in an eureka moment.
"I know! Why don't you marry her? Aiko is going to grow up to be a very beautiful lady."
With this declaration, the grandfather opened a zip to his breast pocket on his uniform and reached in to take out a photo. Shima, seeing the said photo, hurriedly turned away and raised his hands in surrender, visibly uncomfortable as he shut his eyes.
"No, sir! I couldn't…mar…"
Opening an eye, he is greeted with the sight of a cute little girl happily smiling at the camera with her arms and legs outstretched. Behind her is Tokugawa with a smile on his face and the little girl in his lap
"…"
"…"
After a moment, Shima finally realized. Aiko, his "future fiancée" in question, is still a toddler.
"…I'll…have a think about it…Pfffttt, hahahahaha!"
"Bwahahahah!"
The two share a long hearty laugh, the mood in the room brightening up significantly. After the laughter dies down, Tokugawa changes the subject.
"Hey, Shima."
"Yes?", the brunette replied, using his mop as support from his laughter earlier.
"Sometimes, there's more than one truth. You have your "truth", and they have "theirs". But there is only one reality: The war happened.
Even so, you and I still have our families. We are blessed. Don't you think so?"
Shima can only give a subtle nod as he silently ponders.
—
Captain's Quarters
Sitting in his desk chair, Abraham looks at two photos on his desk, the familiar Okita family photo of four of his younger self with his parents and grandfather, and the less familiar but getting acquainted family of this version of his grandfather. A series of knocks on the pressure door gets his attention.
"Who is it?", Abraham asked, looking up and towards the door. He quickly hides the photo from Okita underneath some books, away from view.
"Susumu Kodai. I'm coming in."
The door opens, and one Susumu Kodai enters the room. Stepping forth, he salutes at attention.
"Excuse me. This is the final room.", Kodai said, then noticed at the corner of his eyes that the door was starting to close. Quickly pushing the door open, he hastily brings in his cleaning equipment but gets the mop stuck between the door and its frame.
"Excellent timing. I was just thinking about having a talk with you.", the captain said, putting down the other photo and smiling in amusement at Kodai who still fails to get the mop unstuck. Not wanting to make Kodai embarrass himself any further, he opened the door and Kodai awkwardly brought in the mop without any issues.
"S-sorry.", the Tactical Officer apologizes, his face red. "You said you wanted to talk?"
—
Elevator Hall
Walking into the hall with a mop and bucket in hand, Shima is greeted by the sight of Yamamoto sitting on a padded bench. Yamamoto, hearing the sounds of footsteps, raised her head and stood up to see Shima.
"Lieutenant Shima, sir.", Yamamoto greeted, saluting.
"Oh, I see you're out from the brig.", Shima said.
The pilot nodded, dropping her salute. "It's been six days."
She then spotted the cleaning equipment in Shima's hands and asked, "Why are you holding a mop?"
Shima awkwardly shrugged, the water in his bucket sloshing. "Well, I suppose the same thing happened to you happened to me as well.
Yamamoto looked on in surprise.
—
Captain's Quarters
"During the initial encounter at Pluto, my grandfather disobeyed orders."
"What? Really?"
Back at his cabin, Abraham told the truth about what really happened back on 1st April, 2191. How Earth started the spark and ignited the flames of war between it and Gamilas. Sitting beside him is Kodai, who leaned forwarded in his seat with wide eyes.
"Grandpa vehemently opposed the attack order, and was promptly removed from duty.", Abraham continued.
"So that's what happened.", Kodai said.
"Do you think he is right?", the captain asked.
"I do. And I fully believe you do so as well.", Kodai replied with no hesitation.
"But he disobeyed a direct order. That isn't what a soldier should do. Not ever."
"But…but then-"
"But there are times even a soldier should act like a human being. People make mistakes. That's what makes us human."
"…Yeah."
"A good soldier follows orders, but a greater soldier questions dubious orders, and the best soldiers disobey bad orders. Sometimes, you need the courage to disobey an order you believe is wrong, to remain true to yourself. That's what both me and Grandpa believe in.", Abraham said with his fist clenched in resolute.
—
Elevator Hall
"I understand how you feel. I believe you wished to avenge your family."
Shima expressed his sympathy to Yamamoto, now sitting beside her on the bench.
"And in the end, the enemy saved me.", the white-haired pilot said.
"Even so, you stayed true to your feelings."
"Maybe Kodai was too idealistic when he said we can Melda could understand each other.", Yamamoto's lips then curled to a small smile.
"However, I understand a little now."
The woman's words bring Shima to recall his father's last spoken words to him.
—
"Your father isn't going to fight. I'm sure we can be friends with the aliens."
—
Closing his eyes as he's brought back to the present, he calmly asked, "She's our enemy. Don't you hate her?"
"I don't feel hatred, not anymore."
—
"Really?"
"Yes, Daisuke, hold on to hope."
—
" I had time to cool my head."
"…I see."
At the opposite side of the hall, the elevator arrives and the door opens, awaiting its passenger. Beside it, a large screen displays that the "Milky Way Lunch" is serving at the cafeteria with only ten served per day.
Getting up from the beach to leave, Yamamoto turned to Shima. "Kodai was worried."
"I'll be heading up.", Shima replied and the woman quickly ran towards the elevator and pressed a button.
"Hey, Akira-chan!"
The pilot looked out when she heard Shima's call.
"Thank you.", Shima thanked with a smile, to which Yamamoto can only give a dumbfounded nod before the elevator doors close.
Now alone, the Chief Navigator closed his eyes and let in a deep breath, before suddenly standing up with arms outstretched. "Heerrrrrgh! Guess I'll go up and cool my own head!"
—
Bridge 1
Minutes later, Shima reports to the bridge, exiting the elevator.
Passing by Mori and Sasha, Shima stood before his station for a few moments before asking Kodai, who was sitting at his station nearby.
"How long are they running that limited-time lunch?"
"Until next week, I think."
"…I'm free tomorrow."
Looking up to his right, Kodai is greeted by Shima, a smile on his face. Kodai returns the gesture and brings his fist for a bump. "Okay, I'll see you then."
Shima bumps his fist with his best friend then takes his seat.
Behind the two men, Sasha looks with a glad smile and Moir with happy look on her face, her hands clasped at seeing both rekindle their bond.
That moment won't last long, however, as an explosion rings out and the bridge is knocked about, catching everyone on onboard off-guard.
"What happened?!", Kodai exclaimed.
"A surprise attack from our port side! Confirmed hit from a torpedo!", Ota reported, alarms ringing out as his screen marked out the damages. "Hull breach port side deck 5, a couple of our AA batteries are destroyed, and port side secondary gun 3 is offline!"
—
With debris and smoke trailing behind, Montana limps forward as a visible gaping hole is made on its port side, the most damage it has received since this voyage.
Multiple anti-air batteries are reduced to charred metal and the aft port secondary Shock Cannon has its housing destroyed, revealing the machinery inside.
From behind Montana and almost completely indiscernible, a periscope silently tracks the stricken battleship before ominously descending into a red rift where it emerged from.
Unknown to Montana's crew, the wolf has arrived to hunt its prey.