FLAG Ep. 12: Capture the Flag

Tensions run high in Subasci following the liberation of the UN headquarters. Travel around the city is restricted, and UN forces conduct searches of civilians on the street. The peace ceremony is due to occur in three days, but everything is in flux. Akagi realizes that the HAVWCs he saw were the same as what was on the disk that Shirasu gave him. He realizes that she must be embedded with the unit using those mecha, and he thinks she’s an idiot for risking her life like this. The UN releases a statement declaring that regional militias have been put down and that the recent attack on the UN will not affect the peace process. At the SDC base, Shirasu gets video of Beroqui telling Eversalt that the HAVWCs will be fully repaired soon. In the command center, Eversalt and Su-Ming discuss how all the active insurgent groups are on the move. Eversalt wonders if Ru Pou anticipated this happening. In the evening, the SDC receives orders to mobilize the next morning and recover the flag from the Ru Pou Temple. In Subasci, preparations begin for the Kufura Jayanti festival to celebrate the birth of the goddess. The festival begins in three days and the peace agreement signing was scheduled to coincide with it. Akagi records people getting ready for the festival and wonders how people can be so calm when their country is teetering on civil war. He then meets with Naraya in an alley and demands to know if there’s an underground passage leading into the Ru Pou Temple. Shirasu asks Ichiyanagi about the moth, but he pauses. Beroqui tells her that in his country the moth symbolizes someone who is on the quest for the truth. He says most people have something precious they want to protect and they need this to be happy, but he thinks Ichiyanagi isn’t like that. He doesn’t have anyone to protect, and Beroqui thinks the battlefield might be the only place where he can feel alive. Ichiyanagi tells Shirasu that the moths that fly into the flame are stupid. Shirasu speaks to the head chef and he explains that they’re cooking special food since the final operation is coming up. He says no one knows what is coming tomorrow, so all he can do is cook delicious food for people that makes them happy. He asks what she wants him to cook, and she answers katsu-don. Shirasu takes a group photo of the base staff, and Su-Ming asks about a weird little doll tied to her belt. Shirasu explains that it’s a good luck charm, and Beroqui tells her to be cautious. The transport heli takes off with both HAVWCs, following by Olowokandi and Shirasu’s helicopter.

Journalists in Subasci work to gather information at the bar while Akagi and Naraya explore the Gelut tunnels. Shirasu sees a lot of lights in Subasci, which Olowokandi explains are meant to guide the Kufura as part of the Kufura Jayanti festival. After reaching a staircase with access to the Ru Pou palace, Naraya says he’s not going any farther and runs away. The transport heli fires stun grenades before approaching the temple’s central courtyard to drop the HAVWCs. Insurgents immediately open fire, but Eversalt and Ichiyanagi neutralize them before advancing toward the temple’s interior. Inside the main chamber they find Ru Pou sitting in front of the flag. Insurgents rush into the chamber to protect Ru Pou and fire flare grenades to blind the HAVWCs. Once their night vision is restored they see that the flag is gone. Aqbal reports movement of people trying to escape the temple, and Ichiyanagi moves to intercept. Olowokandi spots the insurgents on foot and confirms they have the flag. A Longku opens fire on him as a transport helicopter and attack helicopter approach. Akagi emerges from the tunnels right behind the temple and sees the battle in progress. He records the two HAVWCs moving into the mountains. Olowokandi tells Shirasu that it’s too dangerous for her in the helicopter, so he wants her to get off and hide. Akagi spots Shirasu and yells at her to get away, but she can’t hear him. The HAVWCs trade fire with the Longku and realize it has depleted uranium armor. The attack helicoper opens fire on the HAVWCs from above and Akagi runs to find Shirasu, who is lying prone and taking pictures. He wonders what drives her to go this far. The insurgents run up the mountain as the transport helicopter approaches. The attack helicopter fires at Eversalt’s HAVWC and causes enough dage to incapacitate it. Aqbal takes on the attack helicopter and destroys it. The insurgents connect the flag to a winch lowered from the helicopter. Ichiyanagi continues firing on the Longku and destroys it. Shirasu thinks to herself that she loves everyone and that she’s going to get all these shots. Ichiyanagi fires at the winch and destroys it. Shirasu snaps a breathtaking photo of Ichiyanagi’s HAVWC grabbing and waving the flag. The transport helicopter turns away and withdraws. Akagi calls out to Shirasu and finally gets her attention. As the HAVWCs depart, UN soldiers arrive to secure the area and cluster around Shirasu. Olowokandi hovers above and leaves without Shirasu as the UN soldiers detain her and Akagi.