Bokurano Ikki #4, 2008 Chapter 51 Kana Ushiro (4) - Page 1 - Chapter 51 - Kana Ushiro (4) She has borne the pain of being hurt. Hurting others, however... - Page 2 - [If there's one condition under which Zearth is at a massive disadvantage,] [it is being unaware of the enemy's location.] [Javelin, the previous enemy, used a battle strategy that betrayed our expectations.] [We had assumed that battle always took place within visible range.] [Zearth has a vital weakness in its enemy-searching capability.] [With the army's support, this is currently its only weakness.] - Page 3 - [According to Dung Beetle, in away battles,] [only that which can fit into the spherical, 20-meter-diameter cockpit can be taken along.] [Fortunately, one 18-meter Model 88 jet fighter fits neatly within those dimensions.] Tanaka: {Of course, since I never took Model 96 conversion training, The 88's the only thing I can use.} [What happens when the battle is over is unclear,] [but we can only assume that if the craft goes down, Dung Beetle will retrieve it.] Tanaka: {What happens if it's outside the cockpit when we get taken back?} DB: Well, it's just about time to get started. Everybody prepared and ready? - Page 4 - Kana: Mrs. Tanaka!! What I said about my brother-!! Tanaka: I have pre-flight checks to do. We can talk later. Take me up, Dung Beetle. - Page 5 - Yoko: Kana... I'm really sorry... Kana: It's okay. Besides, I need your help, so I can win. I'm all ready. Sasami: Put this on. You can communicate with Captain Tanaka. Tanaka: I'm all ready, too. - Page 6 - DB: Good timing. The show's about to start. Tanaka: Please teleport me to 10,000 meters altitude. - Page 7 - Tanaka: Engine, ignition. - Pages 8 & 9 - - Page 10 - DB: Looks like this enemy's fully prepared. Tanaka: This Earth's conventional weaponry shouldn't be any stronger against Zearth. Is this showing their inexperience? Sasami: Fifteen slits, Seven lights remaining. They've won their share of battles. Yoko: But from their perspective, we should be much MORE intimidating. Kana: Dung Beetle, - Page 11 - Kana: If I win, and the other people disappear, it doesn't hurt them, does it? DB: Probably not. Not that I'd know from experience. Kana: I'm okay. I think I can do this. - Page 12 - Yoko: This enemy looks... A lot like the one from Kodama's fight... It's moving!! Retreating?! - Page 13 - Tanaka: That shape... Unmanned craft? They have unmanned fighters in this world. Actually, that should make it easier for Kana to fight. - Page 14 - Sasami: What's that? Smoke? Tanaka: A smokescreen?! Yoko: We can't see the enemy!! - Page 15 - Tanaka: Kana!! Move away from there!! Kana: Huh? - Page 16 - Kana: Ah!! Mrs. Tanaka!! I can't see them!! Tanaka: The entire battlefield is covered with smoke!! - Page 17 - Tanaka: It's so primitive... But at the same time, so completely effective!! Yoko: It's using a piece of Zearth's armor that fell off!! Tanaka: {The enemy clearly senses Zearth's location. Is it using some kind of radar? I can read the enemy's position on the Model 88's radar, but I can't communicate the info to Kana well enough to be useful. In that case...} Kana, can you hear me?! Kana: Y-yes! Tanaka: {Good, communications are holding up.} - Page 18 - Tanaka: Can you use Zearth's lasers... To take out the enemy fighters?! Kana: Y... Yes! But, Mrs. Tanaka!! There are people riding on board!! Tanaka: Don't worry, Kana, they're unmanned... Kana: There are people!! Yoko: What if they're not?! It could be other animals... Kana: They're people!! I know!! I can tell!! - Page 19 - Jun: You realize what you're trying to accomplish will kill all of them anyway! What does it matter if one or two of them-- Kana: But... I don't want... to HURT them. I... Sasami: At the very least, you'll have to kill the enemy pilot. Are you saying you can't even do that? - Page 20 - Tanaka: {People in an unmanned jet? First the smoke, now this. This planet is... Well, I guess it's a lot like us.} Kana, keep changing positions and swing your arms around in defense!! Sasami: Captain Tanaka, the enemy fighters are... Tanaka: Don't worry. I'll handle them. {They must have noticed me already. But they're not attacking, which means they must not be equipped for standard air-to-air combat. They'll be sending standard fighters to come and deal with me soon. Gotta clean them up before then.} - Page 21 - Tanaka: {Well then, it'll be a battle of skill between me and them. But, in a one-on-one engagement, The Model 88 is unparalleled!!} - Page 22 - Tanaka: {Input enemy data, Model 91 guided anti-aircraft missile loitering engage. Good, they're bearing the jamming. This will work.} Sasami: The Model 91 is the world's most expensive anti-aircraft missile. It automatically flies through the battle airspace after launch. Using its own eyes and friendly craft radar, it finds an enemy, ignites boosters, and commences attack. - Page 23 - Tanaka: {In other words, a special subordinate unmanned attacker, created to subvert the Tientsin Convention. - Page 24 - Tanaka: Those are horrifying maneuvers with a human onboard!! But... The missiles are guided by sight... - Page 25 - Tanaka: So you can't get away!! Yoko: The smoke's clearing out! Kana: Mrs. Tanaka... is fighting... Sasami: Those Model 91 guided missiles are brutal. An 88 with them onboard is going to be tough. [If you ignore the unifying influence of electronic aircraft,] [most air battles between advanced craft...] [take place at visual range.] - Page 26 - [That's what the Model 88 was developed for.] Tanaka: Next!! More insane maneuvers!! Look, I'm sorry to disappoint you... - Page 27 - Tanaka: But the Model 88 has lasers, too!! It's a self-defense laser, so its output is weak, and it loses its charge rapidly, but it's enough for unmanned craft. The problem with unmanned jets is that a minimum of damage can completely wipe out their ability to fulfill objectives. - Page 28 - Tanaka: Kana, can you hear me? Kana: Y-yes! Tanaka: I realize this sound like a lie, and it will be hard for you to believe, but I do think of you as like a daughter to me. The same with everyone who's involved with Zearth. I would do anything for my children. That's why I signed the contract. - Page 29 - Tanaka: But that doesn't sound very convincing, after I said that I couldn't do what you asked of me. When this battle is over, I will tell Jun who I am. Is that okay? Kana: Y-yes!! [A mother shouldn't be allowed to limit] [her own child's choices, just for her own reasons.] - Page 30 - [I'll tell Jun everything.] [When Jun learns everything] [and chooses to act on it,] [I can only accept] [whatever choices he makes of his own accord.] Tanaka: {Besides, I don't even have the right to wish for Jun to live.} - Page 31 - Yoko: Wow... She wiped them all out... in an instant... Sasami: {Yes, the Model 88 is powerful. But only... if you don't stray from a certain standardized usage.} - Page 32 - Kana: Mrs. Tanaka... Sasami: Can you handle this? Kana: Y-yes!! {I have to win. If I can win...} - Chapter 51 End -