{"id":27309,"date":"2018-08-29T21:47:54","date_gmt":"2018-08-30T04:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=27309"},"modified":"2019-10-14T17:44:16","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T00:44:16","slug":"415a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/415a\/","title":{"rendered":"Yamato Resurrection<\/em> Chapter 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Kodai’s Return<\/h2>\n

A large warship drifted through the wastes of space. Blue Noah<\/em>. Its hull was severely damaged and power was lost. <\/p>\n

Satoru Kamijo clung to his gunnery seat. His legs and back were injured, and his flowing blood had soaked his uniform. Still, he was breathing. He had desperately tried to attack and shoot down the enemy ships until the very end. He had destroyed five of them, but received a fierce counter-attack and passed out. The engine remained silent.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn it, I can\u2019t die like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enduring the pain, he tried to start the engine. It only offered a faint sound and went silent.<\/p>\n

“What happened to the emigration fleet\u2026the other escorts\u2026have we all been destroyed? Where are we now\u2026?”<\/p>\n

He desperately wanted to know, but there was no one to answer him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly the\u2026communicator is\u2026yes here it is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Kamijo began repairs to try and activate the broken communicator. He groaned from the pain of his wounds as he twisted broken wires together. Two hours passed as he tried to hold back his flowing blood with his shirt, and then the built-in speaker finally leaked out faint, staticky noise.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Forgetting his pain, Kamijo leaned forward as the communicator powered up.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Earth Defense Forces escort fleet flagship Blue Noah<\/em>, combat team leader Kamijo! This is Blue Noah<\/em>, please respond!\u201d<\/p>\n

He repeated the same words over and over, but no response came back. Kamijo closed his eyes painfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the only survivor\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

His whole body stiffened and was overcome by a feeling of exhaustion. Was it his fate to die like this\u2026? The smile of his sister Ayumi floated through the darkness as Kamijo closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

Big brother\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Ayumi had always stared at Kamijo with trusting eyes.<\/p>\n

Ayumi isn\u2019t here any more\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Kamijo\u2019s memory revived.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t protect my parents, my sister Ayumi, or any of my family. Now I\u2019m just like them\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

When Kamijo opened his eyes again, he allowed the thought of death to swim through those now-vacant pools.<\/p>\n

Big brother, please don\u2019t die. Always remember us. If you die, there will be no one to remember us\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

That was certainly Ayumi\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s Ayumi\u2019s wish, I can\u2019t die,\u201d Kamijo groaned. \u201cI\u2019ll find out who the enemy is. Your brother promises you that, Ayumi\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He reached for the communicator again.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease respond\u2026please respond\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

But there was nothing. Kamijo\u2019s consciousness began to fade again.<\/p>\n

No, hold on…survive and get back to your duty.<\/em><\/p>\n

Kamijo pleaded desperately to himself, but now he couldn\u2019t even open his eyes any more.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Susumu Kodai was on board an outdated space cargo ship, sailing to his next destination after offloading supplies at a frontier development station.<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t been back to Earth in three years\u2026and now I\u2019m wandering around in an area of space where I can\u2019t even communicate\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

After first boarding this cargo ship, he\u2019d returned to Earth once a year where Yuki and Miyuki were waiting. He felt sorry for Yuki. She had constantly shown understanding, not blaming him for continuing this selfish, aimless journey.<\/p>\n

He had named this worn-out cargo ship Yuki<\/em>, which was at least a testimony of his love for her. After losing Yamato<\/em> and Captain Okita, something had gone missing. It could be said he was drifting through space to fill the hole in his soul.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

His heart was at ease in space. Many people had lost their lives in the battles to protect Earth. Kodai\u2019s heart was still heavily scarred by the afterimages of them falling, one after another after another. That\u2019s what it meant to live in battle. He roamed the galaxy out of balance, hating all war.<\/p>\n

I need to return to Earth soon. I want to touch Yuki\u2019s soft, cheerful smile. I want to face Miyuki again, to talk slowly and carefully with her\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Kodai looked off into the distance, in Earth\u2019s direction. The abyss of space spread outside the window of the cargo ship.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEh?\u201d<\/p>\n

He felt as if a noise had come from the communicator. He turned to look, but it was just burping static. He spoke to the communications officer.<\/p>\n

\u201cHasn\u2019t that been repaired yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,” Comm Officer Yazawa answered, scratching his head. “I gave it a good try, but it was useless. I haven\u2019t looked at it since then. I thought there was no help for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s no good. What use is a worn-out cargo ship without a working communicator?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right. I\u2019ll look into it right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on now, you can fix it if you put your mind to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yazawa began to tinker with the communicator, talking with Kodai as he worked.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t the captain want to see his wife and daughter? You haven\u2019t been back to Earth in three years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026this job has taken longer than expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I were the captain, I wouldn\u2019t leave such a beautiful wife all alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough. Concentrate on your work and fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye-aye, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kodai couldn\u2019t reveal the darkness of his heart to his subordinates. Even though he called it a worn-out cargo ship, he always had to keep his crew and baggage safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Omura,\u201d Kodai said to his deputy captain, \u201cshall we go back to Earth soon?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be good, captain,\u201d Omura laughed. \u201cI was actually waiting for you to say that. I\u2019ve really been missing Japanese food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kosaku Omura was a good and trusted friend. Slightly older than Kodai, he had both calm judgment and passion. He was a good fit as deputy captain.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I can increase the sensitivity,\u201d Yazawa grumbled as he worked to repair the communicator. But then he suddenly raised his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, I think I hear something. Is that an SOS?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSOS?\u201d Kodai\u2019s expression tensed. \u201cYazawa, have you fixed the communicator?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not completely, but I\u2019m catching some kind of signal, like an SOS.<\/p>\n

The voice issuing the SOS was as faint as a whisper. Kodai leaned forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is\u2026Kamijo of Blue Noah<\/em>\u2026please help\u2026”<\/p>\n

It was a thin, intermittent voice, but they certainly heard it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you?\u201d Kodai shouted. \u201cWe hear you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kamijo was surprised. Did the God of space deliver his voice after all?<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Kodai, captain of a cargo ship. We read you, Kamijo. Where are you now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite Kodai asking, there was no way for Kamijo to accurately convey his current position.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile escorting an emigration fleet, we were attacked by a horde of mysterious spaceships about 17,000 light years from Earth. When I recovered, I was drifting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEmigration fleet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right\u2026Earth will disappear in three months. A mobile black hole is approaching. The human race decided to relocate to Planet Amal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs this true?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone listening was shocked to hear this. They had neglected communication with Earth, and now this terrible situation had erupted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need you to come and help me somehow,\u201d Kamijo groaned painfully. \u201cI\u2019m on board the damaged escort fleet flagship Blue Noah<\/em>\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Then communication was cut off with a snap.<\/p>\n

\u201cKamijo! Kamijo!\u201d Kodai called out, but the communicator only answered with static. \u201cKamijo, we\u2019ll get there and find you by all means! Don\u2019t give up!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But still no reply. They had to reach him as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe exploration screen is out of order,\u201d said Apprentice Navigator Yoichi Sakurai of the space training college. \u201cI\u2019ll try to do something with it!\u201d<\/p>\n

This screen was critical to locating Kamijo\u2019s whereabouts. Sakurai began stabbing buttons below the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat’s wrong with this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Sakurai checked one thing after another, but the screen only filled with a static sound and no image. Sakurai punched it with a bang.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, do it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can\u2019t be helped,\u201d Kodai said decisively. \u201cWe have no choice but to warp. If it\u2019s 17,000 light years from Earth, we can warp into that airspace from here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll at once, with this ship?\u201d Sakurai scoffed with his hands outstretched. \u201cThat\u2019s impossible!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe in your ability,\u201d Kodai answered calmly. \u201cAnd you have to do it if your captain says so!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sakurai relented and started preparations for warping.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Kodai said. <\/p>\n

Omura\u2019s voice sounded from every speaker in the ship.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll hands, we\u2019re changing our route and doing a warp! Everyone put on your seatbelts!\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone on the crew grabbed the closest chair and strapped themselves in. Sakurai pressed his hands together and started the countdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet my skills be enough for this reckless act to succeed. Three, two, one, warp!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The main screen filled with orange light and space itself screamed as if being torn apart. The cargo ship became a thin line that was catapulted forward and disappeared.<\/p>\n

The warp only lasted a few seconds. Kodai quietly opened his eyes. Cheers broke out from the crew.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re alive! God wants us to stay alive!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sakurai\u2019s voice was ebullient.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, the screen is also fixed!\u201d<\/p>\n

Had the exploration screen also been surprised by the warp\u2019s impact? An image was now projected from it as if it had woken up from a long sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, let\u2019s locate Kamijo! Aim from 100 to 200 space kilometers!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye!\u201d<\/p>\n

They reacted as ordered, changing direction ten degrees to the right and then to the left to look for the drifting flagship. But they could only see stars glowing in the distance. They tried operating the communicator again, but there was no response.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s the shipwreck?\u201d Kodai was getting impatient.<\/p>\n

Right away, Sakurai hit a computer key at the radar and shouted, \u201cIn the four o\u2019clock direction, 150 space kilometers!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to rescue the survivor,\u201d Omura barked to the engineer from the master control panel. \u201cEngine output at full!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s impossible to fully open up such a worn-out engine,\u201d the engineer responded.<\/p>\n

Omura thrust a verbal spear on Kodai\u2019s behalf. \u201cDon\u2019t mess with me! How many years have you been on this ship?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, aye! Engine output at full!\u201d<\/p>\n

Creaks and squeaky noises began to rise from everywhere. This is what it was to fly a worn-out ship. But Kodai had sailed on it for a long time, and it didn\u2019t betray his passion or expectations. The ship arrived at its mark without breaking down.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks like an Earth Defense Forces ship!\u201d<\/p>\n

The huge battleship drifted helplessly through black space. It was unquestionably the flagship of an escort fleet, and Kamijo would be on board.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n

The cargo ship pulled up to the wreckage that had been Blue Noah<\/em>, and when the mobile docking bay system connected the two, Kodai transferred quickly over.<\/p>\n

\u201cKamijo!\u201d Kodai called out as he proceeded through the ship, relying on a life sensor. He arrived at the combat bridge to find its bulkheads still intact. Then he discovered a man who had fallen out of the gunnery seat, trying to get back up.<\/p>\n

\u201cKamijo?\u201d<\/p>\n

Kamijo opened his eyes weakly as Kodai lifted him up.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe emigration fleet\u2026I couldn\u2019t protect them\u2026\u201d Speaking haltingly, Kamijo passed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on!\u201d<\/p>\n

Doing his best to encourage Kamijo, Kodai carried him back to the cargo ship and Sakurai treated him with his limited medical knowledge. When Kamijo’s blood-stained uniform was peeled off, it revealed a huge scar and countless fragments stuck in his back. After a while, his treatment was finished and he regained consciousness.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt hurts!\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling the pain of his wounds brought to Kamijo the realization that he was alive.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said your name was Kamijo,\u201d Kodai said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Satoru Kamijo, airman first class, Earth Federation Forces.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kodai replied, trying to tamp down his impatience.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you tell me more about the current state of Earth?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEarth is going to be swallowed by a Cascade Black Hole in three more months. The whole human race is emigrating to Planet Amal, and we were in the first group.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s in charge of the emigration fleet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCommander Kodai.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEh\u2026?\u201d Kodai stammered. \u201cKodai\u2026Yuki Kodai\u2026?<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. There were 700 million people on the emigration ships. But we were suddenly attacked by a mysterious fleet\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c700 million? Is that true?\u201d Kodai felt dizzy. While he had been drifting in space, Earth was\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cMy family was killed by an enemy warship right in front of me\u2026\u201d Kamijo\u2019s eyes trembled with hatred. Kodai kept silent. \u201cThey’re sure to reveal themselves. I\u2019m going to live for that day…\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Kodai hesitantly lowered his hand onto Kamijo\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen was the black hole discovered?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA little over three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. After the last time I left Earth. And I couldn\u2019t communicate with them\u2026\u201d Kodai spoke slowly to control the tension that was gripping his heart. \u201cI\u2019m Susumu Kodai. Yuki Kodai is my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEh? Susumu\u2026Kodai? Captain of Space Battleship Yamato<\/em>? That legendary battleship\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

There, standing before Kamijo, was the Susumu Kodai who fought with Captain Okita on Yamato<\/em>. He was so excited he forgot the pain of his wounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cYuki is\u2026?\u201d Kodai wanted to know what happened to Yuki\u2019s escort ship.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. In all that confusion\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Maybe it’s drifting near here. I have to find Yuki\u2026don\u2019t give up\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Kodai told himself that over and over as he single-mindedly searched for the her wrecked ship. Losing Yuki would be like losing half of his own body. He couldn\u2019t bear it. But it was very difficult to find a single escort ship, a grain among countless stars. In the end, he found nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go back to Earth,\u201d Kodai said to Omura while holding down his anxiety.<\/p>\n

Omura just quietly looked down.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye.\u201d <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In the operation center of the Space Science Bureau, Chief Sanada and Jiro Shima watched a screen with grim expressions. The screen displayed images of the first emigration fleet and its escorts under attack, punctuated by sharp flashes and vivid explosions.<\/p>\n

\u201cMayday! Mayday! Who are they? Why are they attacking? Someone help us!\u201d<\/p>\n

The voice of the speaker was cut off with the rest of the noise as the image disappeared from the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen did this happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a warp communication that came in three days ago through a number of relay boosters,\u201d Shima answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t an attack\u2026it\u2019s a slaughter! Who is this enemy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know. Chief, is the second emigration fleet all right\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

But Sanada was speechless.<\/p>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t we delay the launch of the third fleet until we figure out what\u2019s going on? It\u2019s too dangerous to send them out knowing they\u2019ll be attacked!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we\u2019ll proceed as planned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut-!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sanada spoke up before Shima could finish. \u201cHas Kodai returned yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKodai\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the only one who can save Earth from this crisis now. We have no time left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sanada communicated with the lunar command center. \u201cHow long until the reconstruction plan is completed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be done in two weeks,\u201d they replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cHurry it up!” Sanada turned back to Shima. “Has Kodai contacted us yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet. We\u2019ve been sending warp communications, but his cargo ship\u2019s ability to receive is not good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstood about the reconstruction plan,” the voice from the lunar base replied. “Our engineers will devote all their power to it and forget about sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kodai could not be contacted. His ability was desperately needed. Sanada\u2019s hand, clenched into a fist, shook with helpless resentment.<\/p>\n

In the sky outside, the Aquarius ice mass that floated in gravitational balance between Earth and the moon shone brighter than ever in the beautiful sunlight.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Continue to Chapter 4: The Hope of Humanity, Yamato<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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