Lorelei Page #2

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We're under orders not to fight.

We're too close to run.

- We have few torpedoes...

- Who said I'd use them?

Maintain depth. Seal watertight doors.

Gunnery Chief to Fire Command.

All set here.

They're bearing line astern.

If we hit the lead ship

The others collide with her.

Taking out all three?

If your data is accurate.

Bridge to Fire Command...

Are you ready?

Ready to fire, sir!

We have exact coordinates.

Hit it first time.

Torpedoes in the water.

Six of them!

Hard starboard. Head straight for them.

Hard starboard, full ahead!

First wave at 180m...

Main ballast, partial bleed...

Slight left rudder.

Once they pass, dip slightly.

Slight left rudder!

Down elevator.

Blow main tanks! All up.

To the surface!

Blow main tanks! All up.

To the surface!

We're at the surface.

Gunnery Chief, adjust aim...

2 left... 1 down...

Open fire.

Fire!

We're diving. Seal the muzzles.

Target hit. Sounds of collision.

Only one collision?

Just one.

The lead ship dodged the shell.

Pretty impressive.

What happened?

Enemy approaching!

Fix it.

Diving planes full descent.

As deep as she'll go.

We're past safe limits...

Depth charges in the water!

How's the Lorelei?

We can't go deeper.

Gentle feed tanks 1 to 4.

Engage auto-level.

Silent cruise mode.

The bastards are still on us.

and closing.

Straight to us.

Signal strength 3...

Directly above.

Depth charges!

Brace yourselves,

here they come!

Ahead, slow.

Bearing 030.

Enemy receding to port.

Stay calm, move out slowly.

Propeller noise continuing to fade.

Everyone okay?

What chance of repairing

the Lorelei system?

Tell us how it all works.

What are you hiding?

The core of the Lorelei system...

is a human being.

A human?

Take a look.

She's had countless injections...

Is she Japanese?

She came from Germany

with the ship

That rumor of Nazi human modification

was for real?

It sounds incredible but...

they harnessed some latent ability.

Like bats and dolphins able

to navigate with internal sonar...

She senses emotional disruption?

Maybe we have a hidden ability

which emerges under certain conditions.

It's speculation but...

maybe she senses other psyches

through the water

then the Lorelei system amplifies it.

Every time we hit the enemy

she passes out

and the system shuts down.

A fragile core to a powerful weapon.

Keep it secret.

She's not to be seen.

Permission to speak, Sir.

What?

Allow me to ram the enemy.

Mind your manners.

For my family's sake

let me strike the Americans.

No suicide missions from my ship.

She almost died right in front of me!

It's a human weapon,

just like a manned torpedo!

Private.

Time to punish your insubordination.

Shall I make him watch the girl?

Good idea.

I'm here to fight.

How could I face my late brother?

Do your job as best you can.

That's how we respect the fallen.

Captain!

Do you know why he has no stopwatch?

He relies on that wristwatch?

It's a memento from his late wife.

That's the kind of man he is.

Trust him.

Who lives here?

A man trying to avoid war

at all costs.

August 8th 10:
00-

Outskirts of Tokyo

A man trying to avoid war

at all costs.

Nishimiya, Ambassador to the US?

He's still talking peace to them.

Why are we here?

He's always been close to Asakura.

Sorry, but husband

flies to Manila soon...

Manila? To make peace...?

You helped Capt. Asakura

study in the US.

Cultivating the young

builds a strong nation.

Asakura loved his country.

Full of hope... an upright and pure man.

I introduced him to many

outstanding young people in the US.

I thought him fit to lead

our country one day.

Pardon the interruption.

This arrived for you.

It's from Mr. Asakura...

Asakura?

For my nation's sake

I resolve to commit hara-kiri.

Everything's ready.

You still didn't eat?

I know you've been through a lot.

You're trapped in here.

You think you'd be better off dead.

But at least, eat.

It's my job to make sure you do.

I'll bring something else later.

What now?

I hear you worked

in an ice-cream parlor.

What's the matter?

Are you okay?

You've got a human side after all.

Captain...

Tasty.

Thank you, sir.

Chief made it. It's "ice cream"...

You've got to eat to get well.

I'll leave it here.

Your family?

You speak Japanese?

They're dead?

Yeah, it's just me, now.

You think of them?

I'll never forget.

Captain.

Last night, a guard thought

he heard Morse code.

Morse code?

A misfit crew, a strange, new weapon...

Even as a last resort, this mission

doesn't feel right.

Lt. Commander Masami.

You've read Dostoevsky's

"Crime and Punishment"?

The story of Raskolnikov,

the young man who kills a loan shark.

Remember who it was

he really wanted to kill?

Unusual for you to be here.

How is she?

If only she'd eat something.

Ever read this?

Yes, back when I was a student.

Raskolnikov, the hero,

claims he didn't kill the old woman

but killed himself.

Why did he say that?

"Deicide"...killing God?

Deicide?

He broke the Sixth Commandment

and thus killed God within himself.

God in himself...

Killing himself at the same time.

Suicide, huh?

Killing God and himself...

August 9th, 02:
48 - Tinian Base

USAF B-29 Superfortress "Boxcar"

Kazan Archipelago

What are you doing?

You had me scared.

No wonder, being trapped in here.

Give me a second...

This is your Captain.

In two days we reach our objective.

First we surface to overhaul the guns.

Those with spare time,

steel yourselves for our final battle.

May I...

ask your name?

Paula.

Paula...

Atsuko Ebner.

Atsuko?

Grandma was Japanese.

Is that right?

I'm Yukito Origasa.

Yukito...

If we make it back to Japan,

come see my hometown.

It's a port town with huge shipyards.

Western buildings, churches...

There's a streetcar.

Long stone stairways...

lead to my secret spot.

The crew have settled in.

Damn Origasa...

Amid a world made mad by war

her gentle voice, so pure and serene

like a shaft of sunlight

in the dark water

brought them a moment of solace.

You want a drink, too?

How the hell can it drink?

It's a Leica.

You like photography?

Yes.

I wanted to be a photographer.

Really?

Pick it up if you like.

Lieutenant...

You have a daughter, right?

Unlike me, she's a beauty.

This is her cat's cradle.

She begged me to take it.

I just saw a jumble of string.

But she taught me...

to make a bridge.

I hope we can leave them a better world.

I forgot... emotional talk is taboo.

I'll make Origasa scrub toilets

as punishment.

Hey?

What's wrong?

August 9th, 11:
02

Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki

How's she doing?

Just like before.

Recovery's taking longer this time.

Back to your posts.

Something about war...

or death seems to overwhelm her...

paralyzing her nervous system...

She sensed some massive

conflict somewhere?

It's just speculation...

I'll go get her some water.

What is it?

Aren't you on toilet duty?

I am indeed, sir.

But I was worried...

Come in.

Captain.

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