By Hana Ageha
Published at Virtual Gorilla Plus, February 19, 2026. See the original post here
It’s already been four months since the release of Chapter 4 Pale Blue Maiden (Sasha) last October. The release of Chapter 5 is fast approaching on February 20th. This seven-chapter series has now passed the halfway point and approaches its climax. Let’s take a look back at Chapter 4 and explore the developments in Chapter 5.
Synopsis of Chapter 4
In Chapter 4, Susumu Kodai and the Yamato crew reunite with a grown-up Sasha on the planet Galman, where the Yamato lands. Two weeks earlier, two-year-old Sasha was abducted by Alphon right in front of Kodai. Now, Sasha tells him she lived on Dezarium’s Earth for 15 years.
Planet Galman is home to numerous ruins of the Iscandar civilization. Over 100 battleships dating back thousands of years were discovered underground. These battleships, which cannot be powered by a Garmillan-made wave core, respond to Yamato‘s pure wave core upon reaching maximum operation. Not only the battleships, but the Iscandar ruins across planet Galman begin resonating.
Meanwhile, on Earth, a social gathering with Dezarium is being held at the Ageha Museum of Art. Financial heavyweights and military personnel sympathetic to Dezarium are invited. Yuki Mori and Alphon made their first public appearance since the Dezarium invasion. Dressed up, Yuki is told by Alphon to “go back to your friends.”
Dezarium is planning a bomb attack to frame the partisans. Former Yamato crew member Makoto Kato’s son Tsubasa and the Dezarium girl Fleur are missing. Alphon finds them and rescues them, but is injured in the explosion. Yuki rescues Alphon and they head to the Grand Reverse together. This incident leads to many Earthlings donning Com Medals and the process of Dezarium-ization.
A mysterious cooling on Planet Galman is causing crop failures and a decline in the operating efficiency of Geshtam engines. Like Planet Garmillas, Planet Berth, a vassal state of the Bolar Federation, also suffers from a cooling phenomenon. Something is also interfering with Yamato‘s Wave-Motion engine. According to Berth’s fierce general, Ram Ra-Jendora, the cause is an astronomical phenomenon known as the “Witch of Uralia.” Dessler requests that Yamato join an investigation fleet into a dark gas cloud believed to be the witch’s home.
Kaoru Niimi, who was abducted along with Sasha, discovered that Mother Dezarium could be reprogrammed. Having escaped with a device containing a patch program, Sasha insists that they head to the Dezarium home planet as soon as possible, but Yamato‘s officers respond cautiously. Though unconvinced, Sasha agrees to accompany Yamato on its research voyage after speaking with Ram and Yabu’s family.
Entering subspace alongside the Garmillan dimensional submarine Zerandal, Yamato is attacked by the Dezarium battleship Grodez. Zerandal successfully repels the attack, but when Zerandal loses its buoyancy and is in danger of collapsing in the depths of subspace, Sasha proposes destroying the dimensional wall with the Wave-Motion Gun. Yamato and Zerandal successfully escape to normal space through the dimensional rift caused by the shot. However, there they find Dezarium’s massive intermediate supply base, Digablas, towering above a dark gas cloud.
What are the highlights of Chapter 5?
Yamato‘s True Awakening?
Let’s look at the first five minutes of Chapter 5…
Yamato withdraws from the battle with Dezarium at the intermediate supply base Digablas and returns to Planet Galman. With this scene as the backdrop, Starsha, Yurisha, and Shalbart of Iscandar speak. Yamato is about to reach its true awakening. Sasha is the life that controls that power. Yamato is accompanied by two fragments of Iscandar: Sasha, and a genuine Iscandar wave core. Perhaps its true awakening is near. What exactly is “true awakening?”
The first five minutes are so packed with information that I almost felt like I was watching a trailer. Personally, I’m curious about the three Iscandar members. Starsha and Yurisha lost their bodies along with Iscandar. In ancient times, Shalbart Iscandar, a member of the royal family, remained on Planet Galman and led the Galmans.
In Be Forever, Sasha perished along with Planet Dezarium and returned to Starsha’s heart, floating in space. I didn’t think much about that scene at the time, but now that the three Iscandar members appear in REBEL 3199, it can’t be dismissed as a mere flashback. Like Telezart, which crystallized into Teresa and existed in a higher dimension, Iscandar may still be alive somewhere. I hope this will become clear as Yamato truly awakens.
Battle at Intermediate Supply Base Digablas
Speaking of Dezarium’s intermediate supply base, in Be Forever, it appeared in a scene that was easily conquered by Yamato, a highlight for the fighter squadron. However, the intermediate supply base Digablas in this episode is enormous. Its sheer scale is clearly apparent when compared to the Gorubas it subjugates. Yamato has no choice but to flee as Digablas suddenly appears before them.
Returning to Planet Galman, Yamato and Garmillan devise a strategy, and the two began their joint battle. The combined fleet struggles in the “cold space” where even the Wave-Motion Gun is neutralized. Furthermore, Alphon appears before Kodai. Keep your eyes peeled for the outcome of the battle. Will Kodai and Alphon discover the truth about Digablas?
The Witch of Uralia
The Witch of Uralia is said to have existed since before the rise of Bolar and to have destroyed many planets. The creature shown to Boroze, the former governor of Planet Galman, has a strange appearance that bears no resemblance to humanity.
It is highly likely that Digablas is involved in the “cold space” phenomenon caused by the Witch of Uralia. Digablas resides in the Witch of Uralia’s lair. Furthermore, its location near a space-time node and Mother Dezarium’s reluctance to allow the Garmillan research fleet near Digablas make it clear that Digablas is an important facility for Dezarium and the source of the phenomena caused by the Uralia Witch. It’s also possible that it’s a facility supplying energy from our universe to the space-time where Dezarium’s home planet resides.
On Earth…
People are reaching for the Com Medals, competing for them. It seems that humanity is becoming Dezarium-ized of its own volition, even without activating the Grand Reverse hyperon bomb and re-initializing the human brain.
In Chapter 4, Yuki never left the injured Alphon’s side. This gives the impression of being quite different from the Yuki in Be Forever, who maintained her will to fight and left him to become a partisan. Will we see her fighting alongside the former Yamato crew members who remained on Earth in Chapter 5?
“The last minute changes everything.”
This phrase is one we must never forget. Even at the premiere stage greeting, spoilers were strictly prohibited. As audience members, we too can imagine that shocking final minute in our own way, excited with anticipation. We’re eager to head to the theater.
Also worth noting…
Hidden highlight: “The Story So Far”
In the “Story So Far” segments before the main features, various characters talk about Yamato‘s history from their own perspectives. I still remember being surprised by Dessler’s words in Chapter 4. This time, Chapter 5 features none other than Alphon. We also get a glimpse of information from Dezarium, such as the fact that the Grand Reverse, created by Dezarium in imitation of the Cosmo Reverse System, requires the pure wave core that powers Yamato. Alphon’s recounting of Yuki is incredibly heartbreaking.
Garmillan Immigrant Fleet and Hyuga
Captained by former crew member Hiroki Shinohara, Hyuga is heading for the Garmillan home planet with Tetsuya Kitano, Shigeru Sakamoto, and Caroline Raiden on board. While its primary mission is to escort the immigrant fleet, Hyuga‘s rendezvous, orchestrated by former Earth Federation Defense Force Commander-in-Chief Heikuro Todo, is eagerly anticipated.
Bolar Federation Supreme Control Chairman Belm von Bemlayze
Even in the first five minutes, Bemlayze’s voice remains unheard. Every time I see his face, I hear the voice of Prime Minister Bemlayze (voiced by Junpei Takiguchi) from Yamato III. Could this be it?
Homage to the Original Series
“There are many homages to the original work,” says director Naomichi Yamato. Discovering familiar scenes is one of the joys of watching.