Script

NARRATOR
In one small part of space, the war continued.
In war, there can be only one victor.
The universe is a sparse wilderness and the scars of battle disappear with time.
Perhaps the multitude of stars remember those battles.
Perhaps it is fated that even the stars themselves will vanish one day.
Humanity's presence in the midst of these stars is all that remains of a forgotten struggle.
At this time, a galaxy - an insignificant island in the universe - was at war.
The combatants were the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance.
Also, trading with both sides, was the Phezzan Dominion, a feudal territory.
Neutral in the war, the Phezzan quietly watched both giants battle.
The war had already been going on for 150 years.

KIRCHEIS
Looking at the stars?

REINHARD
The stars are good.
Immobile they keep watch over us, forever shining, the only constant left to us.

KIRCHEIS
Certainly, compared to what we see, ours is but a small war.

REINHARD
And...

KIRCHEIS
The enemy's forces outnumber us two to one, and surround us on three sides.
Therefore, all five admirals have been desperately seeking an audience with Your Excellency.

REINHARD
It doesn't surprise me that those silly old men have lost their nerve.

MELKATZ
Your Excellency, thank you for granting us an audience.

REINHARD
I am already aware of your views, gentlemen. You believe we face disaster, correct? The truth is, the enemy does have us at a great disadvantage.

STAADEN
At the very least, we must develop a new strategy to minimize casualties.

REINHARD
In other words, you want us to withdraw. But that is exactly what we must not do.
I cannot even consider a retreat.

STAADEN
But why? Surely you can give us a reason!

REINHARD
Because, despite all appearances, we hold the upper hand!

RUBINSKY
This is just one of many battles which we must concede to the Alliance.
The final victor is still uncertain. The fog of war still will not lift...
For the time being the Phezzan Dominion is a mere observer (pause) but if the Empire and the Alliance ever tire of war, Phezzan will make a hefty profit.

REINHARD
Now, we will advance.
This is the plan I have approved.

STAADEN
That's just supposition! Your Excellency, it can't possibly succeed...

REINHARD
Enough!!!
You are all are under my command.
If you do not obey these orders, then I, acting under Imperial military law will relieve you of your duties, and see that you are punished.
(pause)
Enough. Dismissed.
This discussion is over.

ERLACHE
That conceited blonde brat... He's just using his sister's relationship with His Majesty to further his career.

MELKATZ
It's his youth. Even though he's now a man, he still acts like a child.

KIRCHEIS
Was that wise? Saying that...

REINHARD
Forget it. Their attitude will change when we win.

KIRCHEIS
Today's your sister's birthday.

REINHARD
I haven't forgotten.
Our victory today will be her birthday gift.

FRIEDRICH IV
The report says the Alliance forces are twice that of ours.
Will we lose this time?

LITCHENLADE
That is definitely possible.

FRIEDRICH IV
I see. The commander of the subjugation forces is her little brother, isn't he?

LITCHENLADE
The heir to the name of Lohengramm fighting at the front...
Rather a poor state of affairs...

FRIEDRICH IV
That's him. In repose, the resemblance is clear.

ANNEROSE
Sieg, take care of Reinhard, won't you?

KIRCHEIS
I will.

REINHARD
Don't worry so. We'll win. But...

KIRCHEIS
Are you worried about something?

REINHARD
There is one problem.

KIRCHEIS
Yes?

REINHARD
That rebel officer.

KIRCHEIS
The one called the 'Hero of El Facil'.

REINHARD
Yes.

PAETA
Commodore Yang Wen-Li, at your request, we have reviewed your proposal. It seems to be overly cautious.
We're more than a match for the enemy. We have twice as many ships!
This is not a time to worry about defeat - it's a time for fighting!
Why, after all this time, should we worry about losing?

YANG WEN-LI
But we don't know what will happen in the heat of battle.
We can't afford to be careless.

PAETA
At any rate, all present agree. Your proposal is rejected.
Go. But we haven't given up on you yet.

YANG WEN-LI
High praise indeed...
Well, then...

ATTENBOROUGH
Again?

YANG WEN-LI
It seems the Admiral believes my instructors are 'over-cautious'.
My presentation did not go so well.

ATTENBOROUGH
It could't be helped. They're very stubborn old men.

YANG WEN-LI
True. We don't like to grow old, do we?

ATTENBOROUGH
But, leaving it up to old fogies? We'll win this time, won't we?

YANG WEN-LI
Superior numbers. Victory is assured.
(pause)
But...

ATTENBOROUGH
But?

YANG WEN-LI
That guy... the Imperial commander.

ATTENBOROUGH
Reinhard von Lohengramm.
One of their "High Admirals"...

YANG WEN-LI
Yes, the commander of the white ship.
I don't know what he'll do.

ATTENBOROUGH
I'm not looking forward to the afterlife.

YANG WEN-LI
Right. So I won't take my eyes off him.
But, the Fleet Commander turned down my plan...
Well, shall we go?

ATTENBOROUGH
Let me see it.

YANG WEN-LI
What's the point?

STOCKHAUSEN
Our fleet at Astate is scarcely 20,000.
This time, we'll see that impudent blonde brat humiliated. But he... maybe he'll repel the enemy with some strange plan again.

SEECKT
But his current fleet is not the same one that did so well before.
Meaning? The staff officers who helped him out with personnel matters aren't participating this time.

STOCKHAUSEN
One man can't win the war.

SEECKT
Being a good staff officer, he will win if he executes his plan correctly.

STOCKHAUSEN
Whereupon, he will appear very good because he wouldn't accept anything less than total victory.

SEECKT
But you won't hear talk of winning, right?

P.A.
The enemy's strength in this battle has been announced as twice that of our forces.
However, we anticipate victory for the Imperial Fleet.

REUENTAHL
You've been separated from him for four months?

MITTERMEYER
Let's not talk about the military's personnel actions, okay?

REUENTAHL
Well, none of the others will be under him, either. Yes. Now, only the redhead will be so lucky.

MITTERMEYER
Can he survive without us? Regardless, we can't help him from here.

REUENTAHL
It's okay. He'll surely win.

MITTERMEYER
Yes. I hope so, too.

P.A.
The Astate Battle will begin soon.

REINHARD
All ships, advance towards the enemy.

OFFICER
Contrary to expectations, the Imperial Forces will engage the 4th Fleet.

PAETA
What?! That's absurd! That's crazy!!

YANG WEN-LI
If I were him, I would have considered doing the same thing.

ATTENBOROUGH
It's not your fault. You tried to tell them.

PAETA
All ships! Frontal attack on the enemy!

ATTENBOROUGH
"If the enemy has good morale, I don't think this'll take too long."
"I think there's a good chance they'll crush each of our separate forces."
The Imperials were planning that, after all.
(pause)
What's the counter-attack...

YANG WEN-LI
Even if you read it, it won't help.
It's already too late to use that plan.
But there's still another way...
Only, if we don't do it, 20,000 ships... Maybe even 40,000 ships will be destroyed.
And that's not going to hurt the enemy very much.

OFFICER
Enemy fleet total: 13,000.

It's simply a matter of numbers.
Isn't it just a matter of time 'til we win?
Yes, as you say.
"The tactic to envelop the enemy with 40,000..."
"If attacked individually, each separate fleet is 13,000."
"20,000 against 13,000..."
"Our side will definitely lose."
What's the hell is this?! Counter-attack! All ships, attack!
Launch all Spartanian ships!
They're all around us!!!
There's no time to launch!
4th Fleet battleships under fire from heavy weapons! Unable to launch fighters!
Because the enemy jamming, we have heard nothing since!
What a mess!
With the fighters stuck inside, we're just sitting ducks!
2nd Fleet, scramble all fighters!
We're saved! We can get out!
Well, outside or not, we're in deep shit. But it sure beats dying in this tub.
2nd Fleet, all fighters ready to launch!
Good! 2nd and 4th Squadrons, launch immediately!
Sir, wait!
The battle's already ending and
the Imperials are leaving.
They're moving to the rear faster than the 2nd and 6th Fleets and risking a counter-attack.
This gives us the upper hand.
However, there's nothing we can do about the present situation.
I don't think we need to further anticipate the enemy's tactics.
Well, then, give me your recommendations.
Join with the 6th Fleet.
First of all, we'll take a shortcut to join them as soon as possible.
When the 2nd and 6th Fleets are combined, we'll have 26,000 ships.
With 6000 more than the enemy, we can force a draw.
So you're saying we should just abandon the 4th Fleet?
No matter how you put it, we don't have time.
This is a vast universe.
How many hours do you think it'll take to get to them?
But we can't abandon our allies!
If we don't, we'll all end up victims of the Imperials' plan to crush us individually.
And so it can't be helped, even if the 4th Fleet ends up helplessly broken.
If they're holding out...
I told you a little while ago that it's hopeless.
Vice Admiral Pastoll, the commander of the 4th Fleet is my friend. He's a veteran of over 100 battles.
There's no reason to believe he'll be easily beaten.
Enough, Commodore. We will not abandon our allies.
I guess friendship is important.
I also have a friend in the 6th Fleet.
He is alive and well. I don't want to lose the 6th Fleet, or even the 2nd Fleet either.
Even if we lose the 4th Fleet...
The condition of the 4th Fleet is still unknown.
There is more hope than not.
The 2nd Fleet will approach the 4th Fleet and go to its aid.
Understood?
If that's your command, then this is not my time.
Well...
It's become an awkward situation.
I must think of one more plan. At least, a means to stay alive.
Because we're going to the rescue, we'll be defeated twice.
It's like an uphill battle.
That brings me to the 6th Fleet once more.
That operations staff officer from the same class as mine.
He's a brilliant guy!
You mean Lappe?
Yes. If we can avoid his superior officer, I should be able to get his opinions.
He thinks somewhat differently from me, you see... What?! Lt. Commander Lappe, what did you just say? Sir, in my humble opinion, the 4th Fleet is already beaten.
Are you saying we should abandon the 4th Fleet?
Yes. In addition, we should join with the 2nd Fleet as soon as possible.
And by that time, the 4th Fleet will be massacred, won't it?
Even so, there's no time.
We will be eaten for breakfast by the enemy.
We'll be eaten?!
We'll be the ones eating our enemy.
We'll go to the aid of the 4th Fleet!
Yes, sir! I'm sorry for that silly idea.
If I were Yang, what would I do?
The fighting is over.
It's a total victory.
From now on, it's simple slaughter.
That's unnecessary.
We should ignore the enemy wounded.
The enemy still has two fleets.
The best way to use our strength is to prepare for the next battle.
Understood, Your Excellency.
Their attitude has changed a little.
It can't help but change, I suppose. And the Admirals' hostility, too.
Which fleet do you think we should attack next, Kircheis?
I wonder which it will be... but you've already decided on an answer, I suppose?
Of course. How many hours until we reach it?
Just under four hours.
Why, you.. You've seen it as well, haven't you?
Then pass the command to all ships.
Change course and proceed in a clockwise direction... towards the rebel's 6th Fleet.
Very well.
Do you have an objection?
No, it's not that, but we can use the time.
How about letting the soldiers take a rest?
Oh, yes, I didn't notice. The timing?
In two 1 1/2 hour shifts.
Yes. Maybe we're lucky after all.
Yes. Our young commander will do pretty well.
But the war still goes on for us mere soldiers. In order to stay alive, we have to rest when we can.
A lot of wounded.
Nowadays, you don't die unless you're hurt pretty bad.
Take my arm for example..
One good hit and we get banged around a lot.
So there are far more wounded.
Who knows whether we'll live or die?
Well, let's sleep.
But in the tank bed, it's just one hour of sleep, isn't it?
In one hour it can take away the fatigue like eight hours of ordinary sleep.
It just takes away the fatigue. There's no time to dream!
War is no place for dreams.
At any rate, you'd only have nightmares.
We've detected the rebel's 6th Fleet!
Commence attack!
Ships detected at 4:30!
4:30?!
Imperials. Scramble!
In the confusion, the enemy arrived. They can't be in that direction.
But they are, Sir. The enemy probably changed tactics.
They didn't attack the 4th Fleet?
I already told you! The 4th Fleet is already defeated!
Don't say unpleasant things!
The truth is very unpleasant!
We're under attack!
Open fire! Turn and open fire!
You mustn't! It's plain to see that they'll win!
We have to reduce the losses, even a little!

MOORE
Shut up!
I won't retreat like a coward!

LAPPE
Yang... don't end up like this...
Jessica, I won't see you again, either...
I die here.
Forgive m-

The 6th Fleet is destroyed.
What?!
Lappe...
But no matter how good, he was wasted under an incompetent commander.
Imperial fleet is now in range.
Now, without the 4th and the 6th Fleets...
...besides being outnumbered, our position's hopeless.
Sir, prepare all ships to attack!
Uh... oh.. okay.
Lappe. I won't be beaten so easily.
Victory is already certain.
Don't let up until it's over. We still don't know what will happen.
If he's in that fleet...
Commodore Yang Wen-Li?
Yes. As you say.

NARRATOR
Even while saying that, the man Reinhard who will later be called invincible, was almost convinced.

Script Translation by C. Sue Shambaugh
Script Editing by Central Anime (Kansas), Lee Thompson and Rob Ketcherside