Crest of the Stars (星界の紋章)

Space-time fusion in...

...10...

...9, 8, 7, 6,

5, 4,

3, 2, 1...

Entering Plane Space!

Get ready!

Somehow, the enemy target managed to dodge our fire!

In that case, maneuver under its wings!

Laser cannons! Fire at full power!

Roger! Firing!

Good work! Now turn the ship around 180 degrees!

Prepare to fire the anti-proton cannon.

They're fast!

The anti-proton cannon's taken a direct hit!

We're losing power--

0.9, 0.8,

0.7, and it's still dropping!

The loss of power has caused a failure

in the defensive magnetic shield.

We're losing atmosphere in Sector 7!

The atmospheric pressure's down to 0.63.

There are no signs of life from the crew members there!

We've gotta shut down the sector!

Lockdown complete!

Sector 7 has been sealed!

That should stop the problem affecting other sectors.

We can only hope so!

Start the space-time diffusion!

Hurry!

It's no good!

We're not going to make it!

The ship has been destroyed.

Any clues yet as to why it went wrong?

No, nothing yet.

At least, I can't see anything obvious.

We should continue investigating.

Very well. Carry on.

Captain, transmission coming in for you.

Put it on screen.

That wasn't bad, Deca-Commander Abriel.

Although, you sometimes sacrifice

efficiency for... a certain artistic flair.

However, I think that, with a little bit of luck,

you should be able to survive.

I would like to wish you and your crew members all the best.

And now it's time to end the battle simulation.

-- Captain? -- Hm?

Finish up here for me please.

I'm going to lie down. Get some rest.

The simulation took a lot out of her.

We lived on a well-known ship.

But it wasn't well-known because it had been

in a famous battle or anything.

Its fame came from being home to two members of royalty.

One of them was our captain, Deca-Commander Abriel.

She was a princess of one of the royal families

of the Humankind Empire Abh.

The other was me, Count Jinto

of the Lin Syune Rocke Hyde Family.

I'm a nobleman.

However, this ship was the only place

I had to call home.

And, if truth be told, it was the only place

where I felt like I really belonged.

Why are you looking at me?

Is something wrong?

So, Navigator Sobaash, do you think

the time has come to tell him what we need him to do?

He's still very young-- do you think he can cope?

Well, as vice-captain of this ship,

I could order him to do it, but forcing someone

to do such a dangerous task doesn't feel right.

How about you try some gentle persuasion?

I'll give it a go.

So, young Secretary Jinto, listen up.

Yes?

During that battle simulation,

the captain didn't perform as well as expected

and her pride was damaged quite badly.

Do ya see what I'm getting at?

I think you're being unfair if you're insinuating

that the captain isn't up to the job.

You've gotta remember that Hecto-Commander Kotokeil

has way more experience than the captain--I mean,

she's only just taken command of this ship

and can't be expected to know everything from...

Yes, Your Highness, I'm fully aware of that.

I'd prefer it if you didn't address me that way.

Fine, Secretary Lin.

Don't misunderstand me-- none of us have a problem

fighting under the captain's command.

However, you have to admit that she's got a lot to learn,

and inexperience can be dangerous in a battle situation.

Even if we join forces with other,

more experienced captains in the fleet,

we'll still be under the captain's command.

That said, we sincerely believe that she has

great potential and we want her to succeed.

Are you following what I'm saying so far?

Yes.

We have to make sure the captain is feeling

positive about her ability and gets herself

in the right frame of mind to fight.

If we can do that, then we all have a better

chance of getting out of this alive.

At least we don't have to worry about her being overconfident,

which can sometimes be more dangerous.

"Dangerous"?

She's just feelin' a bit down in the dumps, that's all!

Well, maybe dangerous is too strong a word.

But a lot of fighting is about psychology

and you need to believe in yourself.

So our chances of success would be improved

if our captain believed we could win.

It's pretty straightforward, don't you think?

Guess so.

And this is where you come in to the picture

to help us out!

What do you mean where I come in to the picture?

What do you want me to do?

Come on, do I really need to tell ya that?

You want me to go in and cheer her up--

boost her confidence? Give her a bit of pep talk?

You got it--you're definitely the best man for the job.

Now I'm the one with no self-confidence.

I'm not expecting you to work miracles here!

Just spend some time chatting with her.

Give her a chance to let off a little steam.

Her? Let off steam?

Um... Well, maybe you're right.

I guess she's not the type to do that in front of other people.

After all, she is an Abriel.

But the fact remains that she's feeling

a bit low and I think we should give her a chance to talk.

Don't you think it's a good idea?

Well, sure, yeah.

But why can't you do it?

Do I have to tell you that? Isn't it obvious?

Listen, if the captain was in a really foul mood,

what would you do?

Well, I'd try to calm her down, of course.

How about you, Sobaash? What would you do

in that situation?

I'd run in the other direction!

You know, suddenly remember some urgent business.

You see that?

That's what most of us would do

if we were faced with an angry Abriel.

Run away! But you're different!

You said you'd try and calm her down.

Oh...

Are you sure you're not reading too much into this?

The captain's perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

Besides, if she knew we were talking about her like this,

it would really make her mad!

I think I'd prefer to see an angry Abriel

than a depressed one.

Seems more natural.

At least we know how to deal with it!

I suppose you've got a point there.

Although...

I'm not sure that her being angry is any better

for her than being down in the dumps.

It might seem more natural for her to be angry,

but it doesn't mean it's a good thing, does it?

Of course not.

I've known her for years and years, right?

Well, one thing I've noticed is that what annoys

the captain more than anything else

is when people treat her like a child.

If she ever found out that we've been trying

to "take care of her," then even I wouldn't wanna

be around to suffer the consequences.

Hm. You've got one up on us--you certainly

know her better than we do.

We're just the crew she's been allocated,

but you... you're friends!

Over the years, you've shared adventures with her,

she gives you little presents-- you're even allowed

to call her by her real name!

Huh? How did you know about that?

You haven't exactly been hiding it.

I've heard you use her name three times.

Uh--

No need to be embarrassed, Secretary Lin.

Just because you and the captain are friends

doesn't mean we're gonna treat you any differently.

You're part of the team on board this ship just like us.

We all have our jobs to do and we do them well--

there's no reason for us to be jealous of you

being friends with her.

That wasn't what I was worried about.

In that case, there's nothing to stop you

from going to talk to the captain to see what's up.

'Kay...

Let's just hold on a minute here!

I think you're reading way too much into this.

She's probably fine!