Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Ars Nova

The Year 2039

United Nations Fleet for the Final Battle

Fleet of Fog

Enemy still in sight!

They're neutralizing our attacks!

All of humanity's remaining firepower has been gathered for this fight.

Yet, even this much firepower is not enough—

By the start of the 21st century,

humanity had lost most of its terrestrial territory

due to global climate change and other factors.

As if in response to this predicament,

an enemy of unknown origin, the Fleet of Fog, appeared

and blockaded all shipping routes.

Humanity was driven out of the seas.

Tokyo, Splinter Capital

Seven years after humanity's last stand against the Fleet,

their governments and economies were in shambles.

Their communication satellites and undersea cables were destroyed,

and all communications were jammed by the enemy.

Every nation-state was effectively isolated.

Merely confirming one another's continued existence was next to impossible.

Space Center, Saga Prefecture

Display our situation on the monitor.

Damn Fog...

Gotten wind of our cargo, huh?

Hold it back!

Buy us time until the launch!

Get a move on with the SSTO!

Fleet of Fog, Eastern Patrol Fleet 1 Light Cruiser Nagara

Space Center Missile Defense System

Amatsukaze and Tachikaze have been sunk!

Fog ship about to exit minefield!

Are we out of options?

Unidentified submarine rapidly approaching!

A new enemy?

No,

this signal...

It's the I-401!

Fog Submarine I-401

We have been tasked

with halting the Fog's advance,

sinking it if necessary,

until the SSTO has been launched with success.

Iona, the data.

Nagara-class light cruiser, Nagara.

Displacement: 6010 tons.

Equipped with wave motion compulsory conversion armor,

six 12.3 cm guns on three active turrets,

and twelve submarine torpedo tubes,

in addition to three high-angle laser guns.

For real?

Multiple missile launch modules and close-range combat systems.

Maximum speed: 60 knots.

It cannot submerge.

It is a standard Fog Light Cruiser.

Engage!

Kyouhei!

Roger!

Loading specified torpedoes!

Tube 7, launch corrosive torpedo!

Sonar detecting two incoming torpedoes!

We were detected.

Snapshot tubes 1 and 2!

All stop! Dive!

Crash dive.

Klein Field deployed.

5 seconds to torpedo hit!

4...

3...

Corrosive torpedo will hit target.

2...

1...

Nagara is turning starboard and deploying her Klein Field!

Too late!

What's going on out there?

That must be

the I-401...

The Blue Steel!

Those with Shipping Routes

The launch of the intercontinental communication SSTO is a success!

Phew, thank God.

Does Japan even have anything to transmit overseas anymore?

They must, since they launched it, right?

Nagara, you were just following orders.

Iona,

are you all right?

I'm tired from the Klein Field.

I see.

Why did you turn up?

What is the purpose of your existence?

I don't know.

We merely exist to follow orders.

Do you engage in battle because I order you to?

Yeah.

I...

I am your ship.

Ever since I awoke two years ago...

Yokosuka, 2 Years Earlier

Marine Technical Academy

Was Chihaya Gunzou also selected to be on the inspection team?

Well, he's one of the top students.

Summons The following individuals are to report at the specified date, time, and place. Date: September 14, 1400 hours Location: Lecture Hall 201, Officer Cadet Campus Summoning: Chihaya Gunzou Ikaruga Gorou Ikuma Keita Katose Seiji Asai Sei Nihei Eiko Watabe Mami Marine Technical Academy Headmaster

That's not the only reason, is it?

He's the only son of a captain who died in battle.

Unlike us, he gets special treatment.

Oh, about that...

Are the rumors that his father defected to the Fog true?

Who knows?

What happened at the Great Naval Battle is still classified.

Either way, there's just something shady about him.

What you are about to see is top secret.

You have been granted special privilege to see it

because you have a bright future ahead.

Top secret...

As future officers,

you have the right to know.

What a joke.

They're just trying to pass on the torch.

Warehouse 51

It's the submarine I-401...

Why is it here?

This is a captured Fog ship.

Although its appearance mimics that of a Pacific War submarine,

it is not of human origin.

So this is what the brass was hiding?

It's no surprise that they'd keep it from the public.

After the Great Naval Battle,

this submarine appeared at this harbor with all of its weapons locked.

Its reasons for doing so are unknown.

It allowed us to seize it with no resistance.

So, if we can understand how it works,

we might also find the Fleet of Fog's weakness?

We might.

But, we've been researching it for seven years.

We've tried everything we could think of,

but it has remained unyielding.

We have been unable to take it apart, as well?

Sadly enough.

A Fog ship...

An enemy of humanity...

A human.

Chihaya Gunzou...

Wh-What?!

Hey!

Collect data!

What, graviton readings?!

401 is activating!

What?!

Why now?

We don't know!

Damn it!

Don't let this get out!

Close the ceiling armor, now!

Evacuate! Hurry!

Who's that?

I don't remember seeing her around.

Huh?

Found you, Chihaya Gunzou.

Huh?

What's your name again?

Are you looking for someo—

Wow, you're a total babe!

No, I have no business with you.

Huh?

Hey!

Whoa, you're a pretty one.

Need something?

You are Chihaya Gunzou.

Yeah, so?

Son of Chihaya Shouzou.

What about my dad?

I have been ordered to meet the son of Chihaya Shouzou.

"Ordered"?

Is this a new prank?

This crap is all you guys ever think about.

No, this is not a prank.

Then why mention my dead father's name?

Because it is the truth.

Who are you?

Iona...

That is the name I was given.

Iona?

We can't talk here.

What'd you just do?

Come tonight. Alone.

Hey...

What the hell?

Gunzou, what's going on?!

Why would a girl hit on a stiff like you?

Squishy?

Sensation...

This is to be human.

I'm here.

Let's hear why you dragged me out here.

To be precise, I am the one who has been waiting.

I'm going back.

No.

I don't have time to play games with strangers.

You have eleven hours until the wake-up call.