Area 88 Act I: The Blue Skies of Betrayal

Enemy at 10 o'clock high! Take evasive action! Evasive action!

Calling Area 88 headquarters.

Anti-government artillery units moving northward from southern division, point 3B!

This is Shin Kazama, zero-zero section.

This is Kazama from zero-zero section.

Damn!

Do they hear me or not?

It's the usual bullshit.

In any case, they'd better keep their hands off my prey!

There's about $6,000 earned.

Runway in sight. Wing angle at 7 degrees.

Leading edge slot open.

Flaperons at 30 degrees.

Air brakes engaged.

Landing gear down.

Commencing approach!

AREA 88

ACT I BLUE SKIES OF BETRAYAL

Whoa, right there, just hold that pose!

A lone samurai, who braves the days upon hot and sandy battlefields.

You got a good face, man!

You're Japanese, are you?

I'll bet it's been a while since you've seen another Japanese.

I'm Goh Mutsuki from N.P. Broadcasting.

Mutsuki?

Folks call me Rocky. I'd like it if you would too.

That's enough. I don't like having my picture taken.

Now that's just cold. This is my job, man!

Then I think that's a subject you'd like.

It's on fire!

That's Greg's Skyhawk.

Hurry up and put that fire out!

Hey, McCoy! Is old man McCoy here?!

What happened? You all right?!

Comin'!

I took a shot right through my windscreen.

I had shards bouncin' around in my helmet!

Guess you'll be needin' some alcohol.

'Preciate it!

Ya gotta value yer life, right?

Value your life, and it'll last you a whole lifetime.

Damn, that stings!

It's even stronger than hair tonic!

Here!

All right, fill 'er up! I'm heading back out again!

There's a whole frickin' swarm of tanks out there!

But they just got done putting out the fire!

He's going out again without even doing any repairs?!

Goddammit! How the hell could you break down on me now after coming so far?!

Bucksey, you suck!

Man, you were born under the unluckiest star out there!

Value the plane above yer own life, dammit!

Shut the hell up, you scraggly-faced, bearded Buddha!

Bucksey!

Your plane's done for.

Aw, it hasn't even been a month since I bought the damn thing!

I've covered lots of stories as far as Vietnam and Africa,

but never anything this crazy.

You look pretty shocked.

This is the norm around here.

Hey...

Two years and three months more...

Two years, huh?

It's too long! Way too long!

I've had enough of murdering people!

I want to go back to Japan.

I want to go back alive and walk on Japanese soil!

One, two! One, two! One, two!

The both of you have truly outstanding academic records.

There is nothing more to teach you here at this flight school.

From here on, I want you to work hard and get more experience

so that you'll be able to fly the skies all over our world.

Ryoko...

I'll be back in Japan the day after tomorrow, okay?

Hey, Shin!

Whatcha doing?

I might have known!

You just can't wait to get back and see your Ryoko, can ya?

No, I...

Well now!

You won the heart of the daughter of Yamato Airline's president...

It sure is enough to make a guy jealous!

You're headed straight for the good life, buddy.

Kanzaki! That's not what I'm thinking at all.

Don't be silly, I'm just messing with you!

We aren't even thinking about marriage at this point.

Right now the flying takes all I've got.

Well, maybe your lack of greed is the best thing about you.

As for me, I'll take advantage of whatever I can.

I admire your drive.

Well, in any case it looks like we're on the fast-track to being Yamato Airlines' top pilots.

C'mon!

Today's a big day! Let's go get hammered and celebrate!

Sure, let's go paint the town red!

Ah, man, I feel great!

All right! Off to the next bar!

Yeah!

Just bring me a beer or a whiskey or whatever!

Another two days and it's, "Goodbye, Paris!"

Hey, Shin.

Wake up and sign this.

C'mon.

Lemme sleep...

I'll let you sleep as long as you want once you've signed this.

This is the paperwork for staying outside the dorm overnight.

Come on, hurry up and sign it.

Huh? Paperwork for staying out?

That's right. This is gonna be an all-nighter after all.

Right...

Atta boy.

Farewell, Shin.

Hey!

Wake up!

You're Shin Kazama, right?

Who are you?

You're coming with us.

You've made a contract with us.

What do you mean, contract?

Are you sure this isn't some kind of mistake?

I'm a Yamato Airlines trainee studying abroad here.

As of 12:00 this morning,

you have resigned your post at Yamato Airlines, and joined our country, Aslan's, foreign legion.

Yeah, whatever. Don't be ridiculous!

This is your signature.

As stipulated in the contract, for the next three years...

You will serve in the kingdom of Aslan's air force.

This is ridiculous!

Mr. Kazama...

Do you want to be shot as a deserter?

I don't recall enlisting in any foreign legion!

"Hey, Shin."

"This is the paperwork for staying outside the dorm overnight."

"Sign it."

"Sign it!"

"SIGN IT!"

Kanzaki?!

Why... Why?

WHY?!

Hi! I could hear you in here. Mind if I come in?

Nah...

Hey, what's going on?

Nothing.

It's a Nikon. Make you homesick?

Kinda...

Would you talk to me about Japan?

Just for a little while...

Stories about Japan? Well, the only thing is...

For the past three years, I haven't been back to Japan either.

See, our head office is in England,

and so I've been working in Europe for a long time.

Is that right?

Do you have any family in Japan?

None!

They abroad?

I haven't had any family since the day I was born.

I never even knew my own mother's face.

I see... Sorry, I shouldn't have asked.

It's comforting just being able to see another Japanese.

Rocky?

I am Saki Vashtar, lieutenant colonel of the Aslan Royal Air Force.

And the highest in command at this base, right?

Pleased to make your acquaintance!

What is a Japanese like you doing here?

Well, this is the only foreign legion air force there is.

Plus I heard there was a Japanese pilot here.

Are you speaking of Shin Kazama?

I have already met him, you know.

All right, Rocky, I'll let you do your story on this base,

but know that these are the very frontlines of Hell. Your safety is by no means guaranteed.

Roger!

For supplies, you should go visit McCoy's storehouse at the far side of the hangar.

I imagine he'll have what you need.

Does he have film too?

He sells toilet paper, warheads...

And everything in between.

Hey, old McCoy!

Ah, it's the reporter from earlier.

I figured you'd be along sooner or later.

Huh?

Oh, I was just thinking out loud.

Gimme about 50 rolls of 35mm Tri-Ex.

Sure thing.

Do reporters these days usually go cover stories without even bringing film?

And you are?

The name's Mickey. Pleased to meet ya.

What, haven't you outgrown the fear of strangers yet?

As for my film,

in the confusion after that accident earlier today,

I ended up leaving my film bag sitting out in the blazing hot sun.

Two hundred rolls up in smoke!

Mistakes can cost you your life around here, pal.

So are you also one of Shin's buddies?

What about him?

Something about him kinda bugs me.

I've spent years going around from battlefield to battlefield,

so I can tell you that he certainly doesn't have the eyes of a soldier.

He's just not like you guys.

Pretty sharp there, mister reporter.

Shin's not like Mickey here. He's not at war because he likes it.

You mean you know?