Gorui’s Decision
Kodai and Iriya looked out over the city of Amal from a palace balcony. The landscape was covered in rich greenery that gave no sign of past turmoil. However, it was still under the dominion of the SUS, and it felt as if Amal was holding its breath.
“Can it truly be said that SUS protection is peaceful for Amal…?”
Iriya’s beautiful eyes trembled sadly. Kodai couldn’t think of how to respond. Suddenly, she turned to him.
“Captain Kodai…if you were in Amal’s place, what would you do?”
Kodai looked directly at her.
“I express my deepest sympathies.”
“I sometimes think differently from General Pascal, and there are times when I don’t know what I can do on my own…”
Iriya gave a small sigh. She lived a steadfast life, but for some reason she had revealed her vulnerability to Kodai.
“If there is anything I can do to help, please tell me.” Kodai spoke with sincerity out of respect for the young queen, who knew the danger when she reached out to help Earth. “I’ll be glad to repay your kindness.”
Her heart warmed with his offer. This young man was strong and gentle. How happy she would be if she could confide in such a person about her broken heart and Amal’s future. Trying note to hope for anything, she asked a direct question.
“Captain Kodai, do you have a loved one?”
“Eh?” He seemed confused by her question. She blushed.
“Yes, I have a beloved wife and daughter,” he answered while thinking of the beautiful, gentle Yuki and Miyuki as a child who clung to him at an early age.
“I see…” Iriya blinked her eyes, looking lonely. She looked off into the distance, envious. “A wife who can be protected by one such as you must be a happy woman…”
“No…”
…I couldn’t protect her.
Kodai swallowed the words before they could leave his mouth.
“My wife is missing. She boarded an escort ship in the first emigration fleet…”
“Is that so?” Iriya couldn’t find the words to reply. Her heart ached at Kodai’s sad expression.
“So please excuse me. I must return to Earth as soon as the order comes.”
Kodai bowed to Iriya and left the balcony.
“Yes…”
Iriya’s heart was filled with sadness as she watched him leave. It was the first time she had this feeling.
No, it was impossible, she told herself. He has a wife and child.
Kodai entered a palace corridor and left her sight. There, a gun barrel was waiting for him.
“Don’t move!”
General Pascal’s voice sounded from behind him.
“Come this way.”
With the gun thrust into his back, Kodai was taken to a room in the royal palace where many armed soldiers stood waiting. He stopped and Pascal circled around him to begin his speech.
“Captain Kodai, I want you to leave our nation immediately. If Amal accepts Earthlings, we will be subject to military sanctions from the Interstellar Union. If we do not comply, this planet could be destroyed! I command you! Leave this place!”
Kodai stared at General Pascal.
“This isn’t Queen Iriya’s intention…”
“The Queen grew up in this palace and doesn’t understand the outside world. She can’t protect the nation of Amal with flowery pronouncements.”
“Are you submitting to the tyrannical rule of the SUS?” Kodai questioned.
“I’m protecting this nation! We don’t have time for this. If you don’t comply…”
Pascal raised his hand and the soldiers trained their guns on Kodai. Sweat spread over his forehead as he was forced to make a decision. Then a woman’s voice sounded from the corridor.
“General Pascal, what’s the meaning of this!?“
It was Queen Iriya, who had sensed the incident. Seeing that General Pascal had assembled his soldiers, she was dumbfounded to see them aiming their guns at Kodai.
“Explain, General Pascal. Who ordered you to do this?”
Pascal sighed bitterly.
“Your majesty. I didn’t want you to be exposed to this. But please understand. This is for Amal. We cannot survive against the SUS.”
The young soldiers didn’t know how to act in this conflict between Pascal and Iriya, both leaders that they loved and respected, so they lowered their guns. But Kodai noticed as one turned his weapon toward Iriya with a strange light in his eyes.
“Your Majesty, look out!” Kodai shouted as he jumped at Iriya. They both rolled on the floor into the corridor as a laser bolt struck close to her ear. Kodai sprung to his feet like a cat, pulled his cosmo gun from his waist holster, and shot the soldier. A powerful heat ray pierced the man’s thigh. He dropped to the floor, but quickly took up his laser assault rifle again, aiming it at Iriya.
“What are you doing!?”
General Pascal slammed a rifle stock into the soldier’s back. He dropped and his helmet rolled off. His hair color was not native to Amal.
“You’re from the SUS! Why did you fire at Queen Iriya?”
Before Pascal could finish his words, the royal palace shook with a loud burst of noise. At the same moment, the earsplitting roar of gunfire was heard.
“What the–!” Pascal shouted. “That’s artillery fire!”
A sentry rushed into the room from outside.
“General Pascal, the SUS forces are attacking!”
Pascal was stunned.
“Impossible. This isn’t what they promised!”
Iriya heard him and spoke sharply.
“Promise? What promise? General Pascal, are you with the SUS?”
Pascal’s gaze drifted upward.
“Everyone outside! Take him with you!”
Pascal didn’t answer her. The soldiers escorted him and the SUS assassin out of the room.
Outside, columns of fire rose from the noisy streets and roars echoed throughout the city. Buildings had been destroyed and people were crying out as they fled from attacking SUS bombers. An alert rang out on Yamato‘s first bridge as the crew mobilized.
“It’s them,” Kamijo exclaimed. “And they’re just randomly shooting citizens!”
Kodai hadn’t yet returned from the royal palace. Kamijo looked at Omura in the deputy captain’s seat.
“Deputy captain,” he shouted, “give the intercept order!”
“No, we’ll wait for Captain Kodai.”
The SUS attack suddenly stopped and the bombers retreated.
“The SUS attack squad has withdrawn,” Sakurai said.
“No, this is a recon force,” Omura answered. “A full-scale attack is coming.”
General Pascal opened a warp transmission from the royal palace communication room to the giant fortress of the SUS. It was no longer protected by encryptions. Barlsman appeared on the screen, presenting a portrait of arrogance.
“Lord Barlsman! What is the meaning of this!? Even if Amal deployed its own forces, the SUS would never attack our nation. Didn’t you say you would only demonstrate your military might to keep her quiet?”
Barlsman snorted dismissively.
“Just so? We are now imposing sanctions upon a rebel state against the Interstellar Union.”
“What!?”
“Ignorant masses change their minds quickly when subjected to a little pain. Amal is attempting to relocate the people of Earth to your moon, in defiance of the SUS. We have decided that sanctions are necessary.”
Pascal slammed his fist on the console.
“You lied to me! Your scheme was to assassinate Queen Iriya!”
“I don’t know why you’re so angry. After all, I’ll make you the king of Amal after eliminating Queen Iriya, who has been critical of the SUS. You’ll be grateful to me for the rest of your life.”
Pascal bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.
“You think I would sell my nation to the SUS for the sake of prosperity?”
Barlsman looked disgusted.
“The SUS can hold Amal down. You can be Amal’s ruler. We can both benefit from this. Why so angry?”
Tears of rage ran down Pascal’s cheeks.
“Why do you do this? The power difference between the SUS and Amal is like an elephant to an ant. If we take up arms against you, Amal will die. Therefore…I made this pact while shedding tears of blood from my heart…”
Disgusted, Barlsman cut off communication. Pascal lowered his gaze in shame.
Kodai had returned to the first bridge. Kamijo spoke up forcefully.
“Captain, order us to engage!”
Kodai was silent.
“Captain!”
“Captain,” Omura asked, pushing past Kamijo, “what happened at the palace?”
“It’s not just our problem. It extends to the Interstellar Union of Nations, the relationship between Amal and the SUS. Our decision will have a huge impact on Amal. We can’t act carelessly.”
“Dammit,” Kamijo exclaimed.
“I see,” Omura said. “It’s a good thing we waited for the captain’s instructions!”
From the time Omura had been appointed deputy captain, he decided to stand by for orders even when looking death in the eye. Kodai closed his eyes and took in Omura’s words.
Omura thought maybe there had been confusion in Amal’s policy toward Earthlings. Since he had spent time with Kodai on a ragtag cargo ship, he understood Kodai’s anguish.
“Everyone is to stand by in combat readiness,” Kodai ordered from the captain’s seat. The radar soon responded.
“Large number of enemy fighters approaching the capital,” Maho shouted.
The Interstellar Union’s attack had resumed. Soon a larger enemy ship appeared on the radar with the fighters. In addition, tanks and mechanized soldiers of the SUS ground forces attacked the capital, raining shells and engulfing it in flames. The Amal army responded from its own military base, but the gap in power was obvious. A mountain of corpses began to grow ruthlessly.
A man frowned as he watched the situation unfold on a video panel. Admiral Gorui of the Etos fleet.
Is it not outrageous to attack a member nation of one’s own Interstellar Union?
“Call Metsler,” Gorui ordered a subordinate.
“Yes, sir!”
Metsler soon appeared on a screen.
“Commander Metsler,” Gorui asked with open anger, “Why are you attacking Amal? They are an allied nation!”
“We are executing a rebellion that defies a resolution of the Great Urup Interstellar Union.”
“There has been no resolution to kill the people of Amal! Who decided this?”
“The SUS. The will of the SUS is the will of the Interstellar Union. Gorui, you should join this attack as soon as possible.”
“I refuse!” Gorui resolutely stated.
“Refuse?” Metsler showed a strange smile. “There’s the courage I admire. I will attack Amal immediately.”
“We are proudhearted men of Etos. We do not commune with or submit to pigs!”
Gorui unilaterally cut off communications. Standing nearby, Seagull‘s captain trembled with excitement at Gorui’s decision. He shook with pride at serving such a leader.
“My heart is bursting,” he said, looking up at his commander. However, disobeying the SUS meant they needed to be prepared to die.
“Is everyone ready?”
“Yes, Admiral. We can’t choose how we are born, but we can choose how we die. I want to die with pride!”
“Very well,” Gorui replied with a nod. “I could not abandon my pride and abide to live.”
He addressed his entire crew.
“I respect the will of each of you. Anyone who disagrees with my choice will not be blamed for disembarking. Board a shuttle craft and leave the ship.”
“Admiral Gorui,” the captain said with a smile, “we are soldiers of Etos! We will do nothing but follow your orders! No one here will run away!”
His face was full of self-determination and his eyes glowed with the future. Everyone stood and raises their fist.
“SIR!”
“Thank you. I’m happy to have been born on the same planet as you and fight at your sides.”
Gorui pressed the button on his communicator.
On board Yamato, Kodai watched the war situation on the video panel.
“Captain,” Nakanishi reported in a panic, “incoming transmission from Admiral Gorui!”
Gorui appeared on the panel, his gaze even more intense than last time.
“Captain Kodai, hear me out.”
“Yes, admiral…”
Tension flowed through the first bridge as the crew listened.
“Our upcoming conduct is not taken to protect Amal or the people of Earth. It is our decision as men of Etos. We have lived under oppression in exchange for peace. Now we shatter that yoke.”
“Admiral…your courage will inspire many in the future.”
Kodai saluted the soul of a proud warrior.
Meanwhile, Metsler stood on the bridge of his flagship Maya, holding out a fist with his thumb down.
“Discover what happens to those who defy the SUS!”
Maya‘s turrets belched fire and attacked the Seagull.
“Gorui, take your regrets to the next world!”
Under Metsler’s orders, the SUS fleet opened fire on the Seagull.
“Don’t be afraid,” Gorui shouted as the Seagull was torn by heavy bombardment. The ship advanced boldly. Smiles floated on the faces of Gorui and his young captain, both facing toward the relentless attack.
“One day they will realize how foolish they were. Captain! Engine at maximum battle speed! Our target is Metsler’s flagship, the Maya!”
“Yes sir! Maximum battle speed!”
The entire crew shared the same thought: there would be no shame in losing one’s life alongside Admiral Gorui. Seagull‘s armor was scorched and torn away by the pounding rain of missiles and lasers. But she continued straight on without flinching, hurling herself into the lower part of Maya‘s bridge with an explosion of fire. Her irresistible momentum smashed the armor plating, the impact delivering a fatal shock to the main engine. Maya‘s control system was destroyed by Seagull‘s suicidal charge and the energy core erupted in a massive burst.
The Etos fleet saw Maya erupt into flames and understood the meaning of Seagull‘s action. The soldiers of Etos instantly understood Admiral Gorui’s intention. For the sake of Etos pride, they could no longer bend their knee to the SUS. They would show the SUS their warrior’s will. But Admiral Gorui’s action alone didn’t compel others into a war against them. They would decide their own future.
The Etos fleet calmly withdrew from the battlefield, a clear message that they intended to withdraw from the Interstellar Union controlled by the SUS. The actions of Admiral Gorui and the flagship Seagull filled the sky over Amal, also seeming to have a great impact on both the Fridei and Beldel fleets. They stared at Seagull and Maya, now consumed in a cloud of fire. Not a single ship took aim at the Etos fleet that was now leaving this airspace.
Metsler had escaped from the SUS 7th fleet’s flagship Maya on a high-speed shuttle.
“Admiral Gorui…”
Kodai closed his eyes quietly. The figure of Captain Okita emerged.
Okita was also kind and proud…
Admiral…
Kodai saluted deeply.
Omura, Kamijo, and all of Yamato‘s crew saluted at once along with Kodai.
Iriya and Pascal had watched Seagull‘s struggle from the royal palace.
“Pascal, what do you think of Gorui’s decision?”
A guard ran up to Pascal, who couldn’t answer.
“Excuse me. People have begun to gather in front of the palace, and their number continues to grow.”
“What are they saying?” Iriya asked him.
“Everyone is calling for independence. It’s a chant for us to fight with Yamato!”
“The people are standing up! The people of Amal!”
Iriya ran to the balcony, followed by Pascal. As far as they could see, a huge crowd was filling the royal square. A chorus of shouts rose up.
“Freedom for Amal!”
“Decide now!”
“Don’t waste Etos’ death!”
Earthlings were in the crowd, too. People of Amal raised weapons they’d gotten from Earthlings, crying out for freedom and independence. Earthlings were shoulder-to-shoulder with them, shouting the names of Yamato, Earth, and Amal. The people of Amal and Earth were one.
Both Iriya and Pascal saw Amal’s glorious future there.
“How do you perceive this voice, Pascal?”
“I see…”
Had the people longed for independence this much? Those whose will to rebel was cowed by fear of the SUS had seen Admiral Gorui’s actions and their hearts were united. Earthlings had taken up arms for Amal to stand with them, and would now fight for them hand in hand.
Pascal pulled his gun out of his waist holster.
What a fool I was…
Iriya sensed his intention and spoke in a sharp tone.
“I don’t permit self-sacrifice. General Pascal, if you feel guilt for siding against me and Amal, pay for it in your actions.”
Pascal’s gun fell from his hand.
“Queen Iriya,” he said obediently, “I have nothing more to say for myself. Your will is my will, your Majesty.”
Iriya placed her hand on his chest and looked out at her people with gentleness.
“Do you understand now, Pascal?”
A convoy of emigration ships took refuge offshore under the protection of escort ships. Yamato was also anchored nearby. Yamato‘s main crew couldn’t hide their irritation at the sounds of explosions ringing through the first bridge.
“Why doesn’t he issue an attack order?” Kobayashi muttered as he clenched his fist.
Kamijo looked at the empty captain’s chair in frustration. A lot of Earthlings were mixed into the crowd of Amal, joining the chorus of shouts to fight. Why wouldn’t Yamato take up arms?
Captain Kodai, what are you thinking about? Are you bowing to the SUS? That’s can’t be it.
Concept illustration by Nobuyoshi Habara
Kodai was thinking alone, a bitter expression on his face. Wars always involved too many sacrifices.
Yuki…our new planet Amal is in a dire situation. But Yamato can do nothing. If we leave here, Amal will be saved, but the human race will lose its sanctuary and be destroyed.
What am I supposed to do? How do I choose?
A warp communication arrived from Earth’s Space Science Bureau. It was an order from Sanada.
“Neither Yamato nor the escort fleet should intervene in a local political situation under any circumstances. Yamato‘s mission is to protect the human race of Earth.”
Kodai gently drew a photo out of his chest pocket. It was a picture of Yuki and Miyuki, smiling.
Yuki, what would you do? What needs to be protected?
As Kodai asked the question, he heard Yuki’s quiet, gentle voice.
Your courage has always saved Earth and the human race. Never surrender to injustice. Always bet your life on justice…
They were her most powerful words.
Yuki…thank you.
Kodai made up his mind with no further hesitation. When you have to fight, you have to fight. He issued orders from the captain’s room.
“Omura, let the emigration ships return to Earth first. Nakanishi, connect me to Queen Iriya.”
“Yes, sir!”
Nakanishi quickly manipulated his console and a melancholy Iriya appeared on Kodai’s screen.
“Queen Iriya, we human beings will never yield to oppression or tyranny. I intend to declare war on the Interstellar Union and defend justice. We will fight to the last soldier.”
A moment of silence passed after Kodai’s declaration and he continued.
“The SUS has invaded Amal and disturbed the peace of this planet. Our mission is to protect the people of Earth, but we cannot silently stand by as the people of this world are killed. We will defend the people of Earth and Amal. Please understand that, your Majesty!”
Iriya smiled. Her heart filled with warm emotions.
Kodai’s intent is to fight not just for Earth, but also for Amal. How should Amal act if he is defeated? He’s given careful consideration to that.
Her emerald eyes shone as she answered with her own declaration. Tears poured from her eyes as she spoke resolutely.
“Captain Kodai, as the Queen of Amal, I thank you very much for your consideration of our planet. But Yamato‘s battle is no longer just for Earth. This battle will also decide Amal’s fate. Our future is one. My world chooses the path to fight the Interstellar Union. No, to fight the SUS. We now declare our independence and will fight the SUS to the last. Let’s protect justice together.”
“Captain Kodai,” she said, breaking into a smile. She was happy that she could fight the SUS with Kodai and share his fate. Even if it meant her end, she was happy to have met him and be moved by him. They would face the storm together.
“Understood, Queen Iriya. Together, to the end.”
Kodai saluted Iriya and cut off the transmission, then his voice echoed in every corner of Yamato.
“Attention, all hands! Yamato will now disengage from the task of escorting the emigration convoy. We will move against the enemy fleet! Our enemy is the SUS, the state power that controls the Western Sidereal Interstellar Union. In order for the nation of Amal to achieve true independence and for the human race to survive, the only way forward is through the SUS!”
The crew’s eyes were shining as they listened.
“The stakes of this war are Planet Amal and our own future! Both must be protected even at the cost of blood. All hands, fight with conviction!”
A beautiful light flashed in the sky of Amal. It burst outward and seemed to scatter fireworks toward the surface. They descended toward tanks of the SUS ground force that had invaded the capital. Like magic, they melted through the tough armor plating of the tanks and penetrated inside. In the next moment, the tanks exploded into flames one by one.
Both the SUS soldiers marching with the tanks and the Amal soldiers defending the capital stopped fighting and looked up in amazement. Another powerful burst expanded across the sky. This new round of sparks fell to the ground, causing more SUS tanks to helplessly explode into flames.
What appeared to be sparks was a cluster of napalm missiles from Earth. In other words, missile shells with multiple warheads, fired by the Space Cavalry assigned to the escort fleet.
Earth tanks, armored vehicles, and troop transports emerged one after another. The tanks were equipped with twin shock cannon barrels and a three-way missile launcher. The armored vehicles carried missile turrets and anti-personnel laser guns. The troop transports were packed with fully-equipped Space Cavalry troopers, burnished by many past battles against infamous enemies. Brave, well-trained veterans.
This overwhelming force made its entrance into the ground war of Amal. While they advanced and bombarded the SUS troops, a young soldier crouched among the Amal troops smiled and began to laugh wildly. Smiles spread over the faces of his fellow soldiers. In a moment, they all understood what was happening.
The Earthlings were not invaders.
They were companions in the battle against the SUS.
Cheers broke out among the Amal soldiers. Yamato fired anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down SUS landing ships. Amal, which a moment ago was about to be overwhelmed in a one-sided slaughter, could now counterattack with the support of the Earthlings.
Amal soldiers holding bazookas and missile launchers charged into the SUS ground troops with an excited cry. The balance of offense and defense was instantly reversed, and now it was the SUS that had to defend itself.
The flagship Maya had been lost in orbit around Planet Amal. The SUS fleet had lost control and its ground forces were in retreat. Earth’s escort fleet attacked with Cosmo Pulsar squadrons. One after another, the SUS forces attacking Amal were completely destroyed by the allied onslaught of Amal and Earth.