01x23 - Handler One

[bunniefuu]

December 24th, Stellar Year 2149

Welcome back!

Welcome home.

I'm so happy you're back safe!

It's important to get off the

front lines so you can rest.

I got you all gifts.

Man, the year just flew by!

This is your second Holy Birth Festival!

I'm happy that this time,

I got to give you your presents!

I'm home.

I'm home.

I'm home.

I'm home.

I'm home.

I'm happy for you.

Yeah.

Time for a party!

Are your arithmetic drills done?

Your punishments always teach me so much.

Independent Mobile Force

Basically it means we kick Legion a*s,

like we've always done.

Yes, this is a proposal from me,

as an individual,

to grant your request

to fight on the front lines.

The issue is the foreign officer

who will serve as your commander

I'm okay with it.

Fine by me.

Yeah.

Yup.

Shin, what do you think?

Western Theater forces

sustained 60% losses.

We're speeding up the curriculum

at all our officer training schools,

specialist training schools, and boot camps

to replace the lost manpower.

But they won't have the training they need.

And while the Legion

lost their combat forces,

their manufacturing facilities are unharmed.

The w*r situation's only going to get worse.

So unless something changes,

humanity will be slowly worn down

until we finally lose, correct?

Yes.

We'll maintain our defense lines,

as we have been doing,

while putting together

an independent mobile unit

that can bring concentrated firepower

down on critical Legion areas.

I didn't expect you to put together

the same plan we had.

A mobile strike force comprised

entirely of Eighty-Six

If you'll forgive my saying so,

this doesn't sound like you.

Sure, but they're the ones who wanted it.

They have their own values.

I don't have the right to refuse them

out of misplaced pity.

If they still choose the b*ttlefield

after all that's happened,

I'd like them to be able to stay together.

Will the Eighty-Six accept

this foreign officer, though?

I talked to them already.

I was worried as well,

but I guess I shouldn't have been.

After all

This is from me.

Thank you.

It's been a long time, Eugene.

Sorry I couldn't come sooner.

Eugene, the Western Front is just

as it was when you were there.

It's still hanging in there, somehow.

You asked me before why I fought, right?

To be honest, I still don't know.

I don't have a reason

to fight the way you did.

But there's one thing I know,

and that's that I

I promised to take them

all the way to the end,

and a b*ttlefield isn't what I want them

to see when they get there.

The sea

The thing you wanted

your sister to see someday.

I don't care about seeing it myself.

But I want them to see it.

I think if I can show them something new,

something they've never seen before

That will be enough of a

reason to fight for now.

I'll come back.

And when I do, I'll tell you about

something you've never seen before.

Marcel.

Nina puts them there.

Eugene's little sister.

She keeps writing letters

to her dead brother.

It's my fault.

Wait!

Why do you just accept it?

It was me!

These letters I was the one!

I was the one who made her

write these letters to you!

I was just so angry and frustrated,

but I didn't want to blame myself!

So I pretended it was all your fault.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry!

I'm sorry.

I need to apologize to you.

And to her.

I

It's good to see him smiling, huh?

Thank you!

Shin, you're not gonna change

your personal mark?

You don't like it?

I don't mind painting it.

But it's a bit of a bad omen

This is a weird thing to say,

but do you really need

to carry it anymore?

Maybe you're right.

But it can't be a bad omen

after I've had it for six years.

And I don't think of it as a heavy burden.

Sure, sure.

Looks like you're over some stuff.

That's how it seems to me.

I couldn't say.

But

I think I can see them off now.

March 20th, Stellar Year 2150

Brother

It's hard to envision a future

without my brother.

I don't have anything I wish for.

Anything I'm seeking.

I still don't know

what I'm living for.

But

I'm really going to paint it, okay?

I

I have people who don't plan

on leaving me behind.

Who said I'm the one

they want by their side.

So I think I'm okay.

I think I can get there alone.

Thank you.

I know.

I haven't forgotten you.

I

I'm the Reaper.

I'll fight.

Because with the Legion keeping this world

closed off, I can't make it happen.

For their sake.

For their sake.

And for her.

December 26th, Stellar Year 2149

It's thanks to you

that I was able to come back.

I won't forget.

I've returned, Father.

A Legion offensive began on the night

of the Revolution Festival.

Many of my comrades fought, as did I.

Many people of the 86th district

answered my call and fought with us.

I won't forget.

But the Republic is gone.

It took only a week.

We still managed

to keep a defense line going,

and after two months passed, rescue came.

From far to the east, past Legion-held

territory and our own borders.

They—the Giad Federacy—

already knew about the oppression

and slaughter of the Eighty-Six.

The survivors of the 86th district were saved,

and any one of them who wants to

can become a Federacy citizen.

The awful things have all stopped.

The rescue forces remain here,

providing us a modicum of support, but

Hey, he got more than I did!

Do your jobs.

Can't you coloreds treat us equally?

How did it end up like this?

"There can be no punishment for a citizenry

that's not aware of its crimes."

Is Uncle right, Father?

Colonel Milizé?

Is that

Ignore it, please.

I see.

As you know, it was the brave soldiers

of the Federacy, equipped with the latest weaponry,

who valiantly pushed back the battle lines

and retook the 1st District,

where we find ourselves today. Correct?

Yes.

The Federacy has requested

that we send an officer to help them

break the stalemate north of District 1

and retake the land stolen by the Legion.

I'm told you've volunteered

to lead the unit assigned to this task.

Is that correct?

It is correct.

As your superior officer,

I knew you'd agree!

I feel the same!

Good luck out there!

So you're going to the Federacy, then?

Yup.

You're not surprised?

After all that's happened?

If something like that could surprise me,

I would've ditched you long ago.

Ever since that day,

you've just been full of surprises.

I've had a lifetime's worth

of surprises already.

Why? Is that possible?

What is it?

This RAID device the Federacy made!

For some reason,

it has the same design as the Republic.

Is it chance?

No, no way in hell it's chance.

What do you mean?

The Federation made it,

but it's got our tech in it!

You couldn't do this without help

from a living Eighty-Six.

But I can't imagine any Eighty-Six making contact

with the Federacy before the Legion offensive

Seriously

Sorry.

Well, I guess the answers

will be waiting for us there.

Annette, why do you have

a Federacy RAID device?

'Cause I volunteered.

I'm being sent as a technology officer.

I'm going to the Federacy, too.

When you said you were going

to do everything you could until the end,

I stopped feeling as though

nothing I did would matter.

It's not just me.

The others too, I think.

So, if you're using a Para-RAID,

I'll have to go with you.

We're together again, Lena!

Yeah!

Oh jeez, Annette!

I'm sorry.

We're still putting things together.

Unit Roster

But this

It's not that we don't respect

your talents, Colonel Milizé.

March 12th, Stellar Year 2150

You and the Eighty-Six survived

the Legion offensive.

We're glad to have an officer like you.

Thank you.

I'll do my best until the very end.

I'll see you in the Federacy, then.

I can buy you time, if nothing else.

It's time for you to be crushed, Lena,

as you watch your naïve dreams

shatter against reality.

Uncle, give me just a bit more time.

Until my dream shatters.

Welcome, welcome!

We've been waiting for you,

Bloody Regina.

Now, let's not waste any time.

There's a place I want to show you.

March 20th, Stellar Year 2150

I won't forget.

I won't forget!

I won't forget

I won't forget

I won't forget

I'll fight until I reach

the place they reached

The place that can be found only by those

who kept going to the very end.

To keep fighting

To live life to the fullest.

Keep them safe.

I saw her too, actually, then.

I don't remember it well, though.

I can't imagine the look on his face.

They say there's a black cat with her.

If only it were Kitty, right?

Right?

This?

What about this?

This is her!

Theo, cut it out!

That won't happen with Shin!

The two of them aren't like that!

And I've known him longer!

So she's even more

of a little sister than me!

Victory's mine!

Theo!

The perfect boy-meets-girl!

Beep beep.

Beep beep.

Beep!

I'll surprise him, too!

What was it? "Bloody Regina"?

Yuck.

Is that how it looks to you?

Will she recognize us?

I hope she does.

But if she doesn't,

that might be fun, too.

I'm sorry I'm late, Mr. President.

No, time spent remembering

someone lost is time well spent.

Now, let me introduce you

to your new team.

Right now?

Yes.

Hey, is that really her?

I'm sure a lot's happened.

You got that right.

I am Colonel Vladilena Milizé

of the San Magnolia Republic.

It's an honor to meet you

for the first time.

This isn't the first time we've met.

It's the first time

we've seen each other, though.

It's been a long time,

Handler One.

I am a Captain in the Giad Federacy,

and the former combat commander

of Spearhead Squadron,

Shinei Nouzen.

Shin

Kitty!

Machiavelli!

Blackie!

Whitey!

You really are a fool, huh?

Raiden!

Is this us?

Theo!

Thank you for the cat.

Anju!

I'm glad you're alive!

Kurena!

How about we take a photo

to remember today?

That's a great idea!

I followed you for so long.

I know.

I've finally caught up.

You have.

From now on

I'll fight with you.