Soukou Kihei Votoms: Koei Futatabi (Armored Trooper Votoms: Alone Again)

Lately there have been many rumors spreading.

That perhaps the incident concerning the attack on the Holy Land, Alegium,

wasn't just infighting among amalgamated Gilgamesh and Balarant forces.

Of internal prosecution surrounding the election of the new pope.

Of a rampage that claimed the lives of Martial's leaders.

Of an endlessly undying man posessing a heredity probable in only one out of twenty-five billion,

and a woman who was created as a tool of battle.

These two, that chose an eternal sleep rather than being exploited in war for the rest of their lives,

were forcefully awakened after a thirty year slumber as part of a power struggle within the galaxy-spanning religion, Martial.

The Nextant, a human weapon created to defeat Chirico who was sealed away as The Untouchable.

After a grand battle, Chirico's victory spelled disaster for Martial's influence.

Though seemingly the winner, Chirico became isolated after losing Fyana.

Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Alone Again

Lady Teitania, I was surprised when you contacted us so suddenly. Please, come inside.

Individually established Nextant research institutes have been shut down one after another.

I'm afraid we'll likely follow suit.

We're fully prepared for maintenance on your biological functions.

Well then, let's begin the fluid replacement without delay.

Please take this, Lady Teitania.

I have no need for that.

Pardon me.

L-Lady Teitania, I couldn't outright deny the orders of the Church,

and the idle noise of ATs wouldn't escape a Nextant's sense of hearing, so-

We no longer have a supply of the appropriate solutions with which to replace yours.

So, you'd go so far as to poison me.

Is the fluid purification filter still useable?

Yes, but if only filtered, you'll begin to experience degredation again a few days later.

Go ahead.

Involved in the military organizations of the Astragius galaxy since time immemorial,

the Orthodox Church of Martial has strived to bring all of creation to the way of truth through the art of war.

Though Martial had awoken the immortal mutation sealed away as The Unouchable with the express intent of proving its might,

I failed to do so.

Because of that the Church lost its place among the galaxy's powers.

It's only natural that I find myself hunted like this.

This is the craft those men arrived in.

Please put it to good use.

Are these all from my travels after the Shimmering Sunstroke of Alegium?

Chirico Cuvie..!

"The purpose behind Chirico's movements has been confirmed?"

Don't you dare screw with me, Chirico.

Oh, this belonged to you, Mr. Soldier?

We'll leave it be, then, right?

Right...

All persons to be checked for entry to Melkian airspace please proceed to Gate 203.

Due to adverse weather conditions, shuttle service to Kummen is currently being rerouted.

They sure are close, that Balarant space fleet. They've got a whole lot of ships here.

The Gilgamesh have also put a Teltain class ship up in synchronous orbit with us.

There's a shuttle inbound.

What do they want with a civilian commerce satellite, anyway?

We've just recieved a large quantity of organic produce from local orbital farms!

This is the freshest stuff around!

These four hundred refridgerated cases are a steal, so buy 'em up while ya can!

Here; this is the written contract.

I didn't put in an order for anything like this.

You ought to have looked over the contract yourself before now.

They are what they are, plain and simple, but bring any more down to the surface

and you wont be doing business in Palegia for long, missy.

What's going on here?!

The Balarant fleet?

Sir, at the moment there's no movement.

There's a record of an arrival and immigration check one hour ago... for this man.

That's right. Solty apparently decided that we'd be bringing ATs in without telling anyone.

I can't get back home hauling these things with me.

What's going on? They've raised the alert level.

In any case, Grandpa, aren't those ATs going to be a big problem?

Hang on a second; I'm looking it up on my end.

What..?

Stevia! Even if those ATs get found, it doesn't matter!

You're going to be bringing in something much more dangerous!

Where'd he get to? Find him!

Please, don't run. Otherwise I'd never hear the end of it,

from Grandpa Gotho and my father, Vanila Vartla.

Gotho? Vanila?

I'd like to get back to Greffier, but how's the situation looking?

I hear they've been making a lot of trouble along the paved roads,

but if you cross the desert by hovercraft there ought to be no problem.

Do we know what they're looking for?

Well, I can't say I do, but we'll get there, even if we have to bribe our way through 'em.

Wanna get in one of the craft in back? I'll show you the safest way there.

They're shooting at us!

ell are you doing?!

We are the 17th Palegian District Army Tactical Armored Trooper Corps.

The road to Greffier is currently under blockade.

All inbound persons and cargo will be searched.

No resistance will be tolerated!

Well, fuck you, too!

Looks like it was only food in these ones. No problems here.

What do we do?

If they see what's in our containers...

It would be better if they didn't find the ATs, right?

Get out.

Holding a Greffier merchant hostage?

Whether we've got to kill one or one hundred people out here, we will do our duty.

Good; now, get back over here just as you are.

Try anything funny, and I will shoot you.

Hey, what's taking you so long?

Oh, looks like they were trying to sneak in a soldier in a red pressure suit.

So, that means the ATs are being brought in on these, eh?

Wait, did you say a red pressure suit? You don't think he could be..?

You don't mean... he could be the guy who did Alegium?!

It's him! It's him!

Chirico, it'll be alright.

Chirico, it's me. Don't you recognise me?

Coconna... That's right; you'd be here with Vanila.

Mom...

I'm sorry, Chiclo.

It's just I've really gotten old over these thirty-odd years.

You're just as I remember you, Coconna.

Amazing! To get flattery from Chirico himself!

Mom!

Our oldest son is named Peple. After him came Soltio. The youngest boy is Shugal.

Along with our first daughter, Stevia, they all help Vanila with his work.

Our younger daughters Kyshrel and Chiclo are still a handfull, but Gotho's been doing a great job as our resident "grandpa."

Chirico, we're all so happy together.

Welcome to our home, Chirico.

Look out below!

That's great. I had thought we'd wind up relying on some amateur for this.

Aw, shut up. I ain't gonna let you down for something as simple as this.

But, sorry that we were only able to bring in three loads of food.

Naw, you're a big help.

This isn't just an issue of commerce, you know, and now the citizens' food reserve is set to last.

The Black Lightning Brigade's checks have only gotten more strict lately.

But when all's said and done you've really done well for yourself.

Well, ya see...

I'm just lucky, is all.

You look after yourself, now.

Yeah.

Aw, crap, I'm late!

War will verily become true harmony.

Conflict controls the way of all.

When creation is mended through our conflict, there will be a fundamental change in all things.

Without conflict there is no change. Without change there is no progress.

If man shall abide the beast, then the beast will verily bare its fangs against him.

Man shall be guided to the limits of his being in a fight to bring about stability.

Therefore the true path of worldly things will become an inherent harmonious strife.

Fight for the love of the universe. Fight for the enlightenment of the universe.

Fight, and fight, and fight. Fight, and walk the path toward God.

Martial's will be done. Martial's will be done.

My fellow faithful ladies and gentlemen of Greffier, Martial's noble creed is eternal:

to meet power with power!

The Gilgamesh Army, Planet Melkia's Palegia District Army 17th Tactical Armored Trooper Corps,

Wallel Brigade, also known as the "Black Lightning,"

have violated Greffier's interests in a manner that we will resist to the bitter end.

Pupil Soltio.

Yes, Father Gashylman?

The ATs have arrived, correct?

Yes, but due to resistance from my father, we haven't been able to confirm their location just yet.

The time for our battle draws near. I'm leaving the issue of the ATs in your hands.

Yes, sir!

Mimendari.

Mimendari.

My husband still hasn't returned from the desert!

They stole a truck belonging to my sons!

Can we really go on living in this constant anxiety?

These hardships brought on by the Black Lightning Brigade have gone on for a month and a half now.

All this after being able to create a peaceful existence here in the borderlands by accepting Martial,

dominated neither by the Gilgamesh nor Balarant.

The Black Lightning's Liuetenant General Glen Patzler seems to be after Greffier for the sake of gaining political capital.

Which he'll get if Gashylman keeps using the young'ns like he's been.

Come now, though they've little authority any more this is a problem for the synod, too.

Mobilizing an armed resistance and the subsequent bloody struggle could be the final nail in their coffin.

And how is the synod moving to deal with this?

They're under pressure from Gashylman's vigor.

Some resistance.

Does he really think that employing tactics like rounding up the town's youths

will give him a chance against the Black Lightning's two hundred fifty ATs?

We must not give them an excuse to attack.

If the people of Greffier take up arms, we'd be playing right into their hands.

If I can dismantle those ATs Soltio bought and pass them off as scrap, we ought not get found out.

The real problem is...

You're still in here?

My folks are all waiting for you in the garden.

Yeah; I'll be right down.

Well, if you have anything for the laundry, put it in this.

Cheers to our thirty year reunion!

Cheers!

When you look at Chirico all those memories of years gone by just flood back, don't they?

They sure do.

Get out.

What a nuisance!

So, with a little help from an acquaintance of mine, I hit the big time selling produce from Kummen.

Since then I had intended to sit back and live the good life here in the free trade city of Greffier,

but just when I think all I've got left to do is die comfy in my bed, at the very last God sends me one hell of present.

You gave me quite the surprise.

I still can't believe that we were all able to get together with you again, Chirico.

Right, Vanila?

What's wrong, Vanila?

Well, I'm sure you know how the big wigs in town hate all this provocation by the Black Lightning Brigade.

I'm just worried that the battle Chirico caused in the desert yesterday might strain things even further...

That hurt! The hell are you on about?!

Chirico was fighting for our sake! He wasn't just stirring things up!

And that give you the right to brain me out-of-the-blue?!

Only because you said something that deserved a braining!

There was only one way to keep the ATs we had to bring in hidden from the Black Lightning,