Bodacious Space Pirates (モーレツ宇宙海賊)

While the Galactic Empire expanded its power

and began absorbing neighboring star systems,

some of the outer frontier planets maintained independent governments.

The third planet in the Tau Ceti system, Sea of the

Morningstar, was a newly-settled colony planet.

As with most planets on the frontier, once

generations passed and its population increased,

relations with its overseer, the Stellar Alliance, worsened.

And a war of independence began.

To complement their meager fleet, the government of

Sea of the Morningstar issued a new type of edict,

the Letter of Marque.

Papers in hand, space pirates attacked Stellar Alliance vessels,

greatly contributing to the revolution's success.

This story begins more than one hundred years

later, the war having come to a surprising end.

Time for some piracy!

Even at the furthest fringes of the universe I think of you

Countless shooting stars surround me and I make my wishes

So close, yet so far,

and every day my eyes fill with tears

Whom can I blame? Fate? Destiny?

I'll devote all I have.

and explode, combust, blow up, detonate, erupt

Rage!

Even if I should turn into cold stardust

I would continue to love you

My feelings burn

like the scorching flame of Antares

I don't care how many lightyears I have to cross

because I love you

My wishes won't falter

The star children will continue to protect you

Rage!

Wow, that's fast.

Is she all right?

Yeah, at this rate of deceleration, she'll be fine.

Assuming she leaves orbit right now...

She'll overshoot it.

Probably'll land right in the ocean.

You don't think she's trying to cut it as close as possible?

She was too quick on the reverse thrusters for that.

The type who tries to cut it perfectly close is always late on the thrusters.

What's she thinking?

Look at you, Mr. Great Pilot.

Can't you even discern a rookie's thoughts?

What's she doing?

She's maximizing her profile to increase her rate of deceleration.

That will let her decelerate quickly without burning any propellant.

Aerobraking.

Where'd she learn a rudimentary trick like that?

She's monitoring atmospheric distribution?

Scary kid...

It's pretty rude to call her a kid.

After all, she is his daughter.

Her ability to do that doesn't surprise me at all.

Landing location confirmed.

No problems with pilot or ship.

I'll skip the check and briefings...

I'll be leaving early!

Goodbye!

Good work.

We should get going, as well.

Don't you want to know where she's going?

Where she's going?

Wow! So cool!

Didn't she go home?

Over there.

Welcome!

Wh-What is this place?

A café.

It's a bit anachronistic, though.

Anachronistic? It's just old.

It's not unusual around here.

It doesn't use robots or androids, so it's cheap.

Peaceful...

Just a moment.

Welcome.

Have you decided on your order?

Yes. A cold-brewed coffee, and...

What's today's special?

The South Alicia classic tea.

Can you recommend something else?

The jasmine tea leaves have grown well this year.

If you aren't from around here, I definitely recommend it.

Then we'll take that.

Cold-brewed coffee and jasmine tea.

Got it!

She learned the daily specials as soon as she got here.

Then I guess she's a good waitress.

Please drink the rest while it's still hot.

Enjoy your drinks.

Kato Marika?

Um, have we met?

I've never met you before, but I'm an old friend of your mother.

You're a lot like her.

Oh, I see!

Thank you.

Have you ever been into space?

Yes!

Up to the relay station, for my school club.

The yacht club?

You've heard of us?

Our yacht club maintains a private section at the station.

I go up there sometimes to work on the practice ships.

I see. That's amazing.

Have you ever considered viewing the planet from farther away?

Not just from satellite orbit...

But from outer space?

Outer space?

That'd be nice!

I'm back.

Voice print verified.

Disabling security.

Beef stew!

It'll be ready soon.

Give me a second.

Okay.

Hey, Ririka?

Yeah?

I met someone at work today who said they knew you.

Knew me?

Who?

I dunno.

But they asked if I'd ever want to see the planet from outer space.

So maybe they work in space?

I see...

They arrived sooner than I expected.

But it'll be fine.

The seas of space...

...belong to me.

I knew it!

The minute she brought it up, I knew it had to be you.

Are they wearing mourning attire?

Of course a legendary woman like you would figure it out.

We don't have to stand around talking.

Come sit down.

Thanks, Ririka.

But first, I have to tell you something.

The Captain of the Bentenmaru, Gonzaemon Kato, has passed away.

Me, too?

You don't have to drink it.

But today is special.

Tonight, at least, we must raise a glass to that good-for-nothing.

May Captain Gonzaemon

find his place among the stars.

It was just two days ago.

I didn't hear of any battles important enough to make news.

So what finally did the old man in, after everything else that happened?

Food poisoning.

Food poisoning?

He got food poisoning, and that was that.

I told him to stop eating stuff he picked up off the ground.

And so?

When did you say they confirmed his death?

Two days ago, Galactic Standard Time.

No, as of twenty seconds ago, it's been three days.

To our good-for-nothing captain!

There's plenty of wine left.

Glad to hear it.

Anyway, I'm impressed you were able to find my house.

You thought you could live here unnoticed?

Yep.

That optimism of yours hasn't changed at all.

I'm sure that this wouldn't have been Captain Kato's first choice, either, but...

So...

You are Captain Gonzaemon's eldest child, Kato Marika, and we are here to see you.

Um, may I say something?

Yes?

You keep talking about this Gonzaemon captain person.

Who is that?

Ririka! You never told her?

I forgot all about it until just now.

Gonzaemon Kato was my husband.

Your father.

How would you like to captain the space pirate ship, the Bentenmaru?

previous captain's direct descendant.

The only one who can be captain is the

only daughter in the universe.

And right now, you're Captain Kato's

You're the only one who can become captain.

So—

W-Wait a second!

My dad was a pirate?

What's a pirate?

A space pirate.

You've heard of them.

But...

But that's ancient history!

They were part of the war of independence or something.

But aren't they gone now?

No one ever said they were gone.

We're real-life pirates, crew of the space pirate ship, the Bentenmaru.

I'm the medic, and he's the helmsman.

Hi.

Um, are you three trying to trick me?