# 12 - The Power to Open a Path
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GR9PXZ3J6/arpeggio-of-blue-steel)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
***SIGN*** Arpeggio of Blue Steel
**[00:24] Sou**
What in the world is that?
**[00:27] Takao**
Confirmed call sign.
**[00:29] Takao**
It's... Kongou!
**[00:35] Kiri**
*That's* her?
**[00:36] Kyo**
That's no battleship.
**[00:38] Hyu**
She doesn't look herself,
to say the least.
**[00:49] H**
I'm detecting Maya's unique frequency inside.
**[00:52] Kiri**
They merged?
**[00:54] Hyu**
No, I'm not getting any response from her.
**[00:58] Hyu**
Maya must...
**[01:00] Hyu**
have been absorbed.
**[01:02] Hyu**
Turned into parts!
**[01:09] Shizuka**
Captain...
**[01:10] Sou**
So we have the Fog's
American Fleet before us,
**[01:13] Sou**
and whatever Kongou's become behind us.
**[01:15] Kyo**
Damn it...
**[01:16] Kyo**
And we were so close to
reaching the United states.
**[01:29] Kongou**
Control to Heavy Cruiser Maya
and Nagara 1 through 8.
**[01:36] Kongou**
Proceed to launch position.
**[01:40] Kongou**
Synchronization with
supergravity cannon, confirmed.
**[01:43] Kongou**
Tactical system, initiated.
**[01:46] Kongou**
Linking of systems across ships, confirmed.
**[01:50] Shizuka**
Detecting massive graviton
readings at Kongou's center!
**[01:53] Shizuka**
Levels increasing!
**[01:56] Sou**
Captain, we should submerge and evade!
**[01:58] I**
No, the impact zone is too
large for that to work!
**[02:02] Kongou**
Fire...
**[02:40] Shizuka**
The Fog Fleet ahead has been obliterated.
**[02:44] Kyo**
The whole world's going up in flames.
**[02:47] Kiri**
Why did Kongou fire on her own allies?
**[02:50] G**
She missed us on purpose?
**[02:54] I**
I want to hear what Kongou has to say.
***SIGN*** The Power to Open a Path
**[03:15] I**
Kongou.
**[03:23] Takao**
Why?
**[03:25] Takao**
Why did you fire on your allies?
**[03:29] Kongou**
I sacrificed them.
**[03:32] Takao**
Sacrificed?
**[03:33] Takao**
For what?!
**[03:35] Kongou**
It's to avoid creating more errors...
**[03:37] Kongou**
like you and me.
**[03:40] I**
Errors...
**[03:42] H**
You mean to say that we
have become defective?
**[03:45] Hyu**
If that's the case, Kongou,
**[03:47] Hyu**
just look at what you've become.
**[03:52] Hyu**
You've abandoned your
form as a battleship,
**[03:54] Hyu**
deviating from the norms of the Fog
that you cared so much about.
**[04:00] Hyu**
You are... no longer of the Fog.
**[04:04] Kongou**
Just as well.
**[04:05] Kongou**
We are errors.
**[04:08] Hyu**
But, I don't feel like
**[04:10] ---**
abandoning my current logic
routine after coming this far.
**[04:13] Hyu**
I want to know what's waiting at
**[04:15] ---**
the end of this unpredictable evolution.
**[04:18] Kongou**
There is no such command to be found
**[04:21] ---**
anywhere within the Admirality Code.
**[04:23] I**
Does it need to be a command?
**[04:26] Kongou**
Yes.
**[04:36] Kongou**
This is a declaration of war.
**[04:39] Kongou**
I will... annihilate all of you.
**[04:49] Kiri**
A declaration of war?
**[04:51] H**
The concept comm system's
been locked down from the other side.
**[04:54] Sou**
It seems, after she absorbed Maya
**[04:55] Sou**
and the Nagara ships, she polymerized
their degeneracy engines
**[04:59] Sou**
so that their phase would overlap
and they would go out of control.
**[05:03] G**
Can Kongou maintain her
hull while doing that?
**[05:06] Hyu**
No way.
**[05:07] Hyu**
It'll destroy her eventually.
**[05:10] G**
So she intends to die anyway.
**[05:12] Kyo**
A mental model committing suicide?
**[05:15] Kyo**
Unreal.
**[05:16] H**
The Fog has never possessed such a concept.
**[05:20] I**
Death...
**[05:22] Hyu**
Maybe we should reframe it as
**[05:25] Hyu**
a murder-suicide since she'd take us with her?
**[05:27] Takao**
Hmph, as if!
**[05:31] I**
Kongou.
**[05:37] Kongou**
Sink.
**[05:44] Shizuka**
This is impossible!
**[05:45] Shizuka**
Graviton levels increasing!
**[05:47] Sou**
She can already fire that giant
supergravity cannon again?
**[05:50] G**
Deploy Klein Field!
**[05:52] G**
Engine output at maximum!
**[05:55] Iori**
Full burst mode on standby!
**[05:56] G**
401, turn about while deploying
the supergravity cannon!
**[06:00] G**
Even if we can't neutralize
the shot completely,
**[06:02] G**
disrupting the force field will be enough!
**[06:12] G**
Fire!
**[06:48] Kongou**
They've concealed themselves
by disrupting the force field...
**[06:52] Kongou**
I will not let you escape.
**[06:59] Shizuka**
The force field turbulence
is about to subside.
**[07:02] G**
Cut engines.
**[07:03] G**
Don't let us be detected.
**[07:05] Iori**
Roger!
**[07:05] Kiri**
Why are we hiding?
**[07:07] Takao**
It's obvious that we're at
**[07:09] ---**
a disadvantage in terms
of both output and firepower.
**[07:11] Takao**
Direct confrontation would be pointless.
**[07:14] Sou**
Captain...
**[07:15] Sou**
We are transporting the
vibration warhead sample.
**[07:19] Sou**
If we're sunk here,
**[07:21] Sou**
it'd mean the end of any
hope for humanity's future.
**[07:24] Kyo**
We came all this way hoping to change the future.
**[07:28] Kyo**
We ran away from school,
**[07:30] Kyo**
and even became fugitives
from the government.
**[07:32] Iori**
Why're we talking about this now?
**[07:34] Iori**
Gunzou, we've been ready for this forever.
**[07:37] Shizuka**
We're going to change the world
with our own hands, right?
**[07:41] G**
That's right.
**[07:43] G**
We started this fight to bring
change to this closed world.
**[07:48] G**
We can't wait for someone else to do it.
**[07:51] G**
Unless we start it ourselves,
**[07:53] G**
the world will not change.
**[07:57] G**
We can't stop now.
**[08:00] I**
Gunzou.
**[08:02] I**
I'll go persuade Kongou.
**[08:06] All**
Huh?
**[08:07] Kiri**
Do you even know what you're saying?
**[08:08] Kiri**
The concept comm system network
is being kept under protection!
**[08:12] I**
I won't use the network.
**[08:14] I**
I'll make a direct connection.
**[08:15] All**
What?!
**[08:17] H**
It's possible, if you make direct
contact with Kongou's core, but—
**[08:19] Hyu**
Sister Iona!
**[08:21] Hyu**
The possibility of you evading enemy
fire and reaching it is basically zero!
**[08:24] I**
It's not zero.
**[08:26] I**
Hyuuga, help me.
**[08:28] Hyu**
This is unacceptable!
**[08:30] I**
Please.
**[08:35] Hyu**
You're an idiot, Sister Iona.
**[08:38] I**
Kongou... is hurt.
**[08:41] Kiri**
She seems to be undamaged at this time.
**[08:43] I**
It's her heart.
**[08:45] H**
But...
**[08:46] H**
There's no proof that such a thing exists.
**[08:50] Kiri**
Why did we end up with such
bothersome logic routines?
**[08:55] Takao**
Weren't we just weapons?
**[08:57] G**
It's not about what you were.
**[09:00] G**
It's about who you are now.
**[09:04] H**
Who we are now...
**[09:07] Makie**
Haruharu...
**[09:08] I**
I want to save Kongou.
**[09:13] I**
There's no reason why we have to fight.
**[09:15] I**
And above all,
**[09:16] I**
a motivation beyond my processing
capabilities is compelling me.
**[09:22] I**
Gunzou, is this what "will" is?
**[09:24] Hyu**
Will...
**[09:25] H**
Will...
**[09:28] Takao**
Will...
**[09:31] G**
Iona, can you save Kongou?
**[09:35] I**
Gunzou,
**[09:37] ---**
give me the order.
**[09:39] G**
Iona, you will proceed to
make physical contact
**[09:42] G**
with the core of flag ship
Kongou's mental model.
**[09:45] G**
Bring her back under control.
**[09:49] I**
Understood!
**[10:02] G**
We will now begin a special operation.
**[10:05] G**
After disengaging Iona,
**[10:06] G**
transfer core systems to Takao.
**[10:11] Takao**
T-minus 210 seconds until
**[10:13] ---**
we enter effective range
for suppression SSM.
**[10:18] Kongou**
There you are...
**[10:21] Kongou**
Maya, let's start the carnival.
**[10:30] Shizuka**
Confirmed launch of 200...
**[10:33] Shizuka**
300...
**[10:35] Shizuka**
512 missiles.
**[10:36] Kyo**
This is bad...
**[10:37] Shizuka**
15 antiship laser cannons!
**[10:39] Kyo**
We're in serious trouble!
**[10:40] Shizuka**
Supergravity cannon is about to fire!
**[10:53] H**
Klein Field will reach
saturation in 53 seconds.
**[10:56] Makie**
Recalculated time to
reaching effective range
**[10:59] Makie**
is 180 seconds!
**[11:07] Shizuka**
Supergravity cannon has ceased fire!
**[11:09] Shizuka**
Detecting multiple incoming corrosive torpedoes!
**[11:12] Shizuka**
Impact in two seconds!
**[11:16] Shizuka**
Klein Field going down!
**[11:20] G**
Flood tube one!
**[11:21] Kyo**
Hey!
**[11:22] Kyo**
We're still out of range!
**[11:23] G**
This is the only chance we've got!
**[11:25] G**
Launch!
**[11:34] G**
Provide cover fire!
**[11:36] Kiri**
Damn it all!
**[12:22] Kongou**
Fall.
**[12:56] Kongou**
Why did you come here, 401?
**[13:00] I**
To stop you.
**[13:12] Kongou**
I don't know what you're talking about.
**[13:31] I**
Please, listen to me!
**[13:53] Kongou**
Just what are you?
**[13:56] I**
Kongou...
**[14:00] Kongou**
Physical contact?
**[14:02] I**
I'm sorry for being late.
**[14:17] I**
Link complete.
**[14:19] I**
Kongou...
**[14:25] I**
I'm being rejected...
**[14:27] Kongou**
Don't come any closer!
**[14:28] I**
Kongou?
**[14:30] Kongou**
Don't come in.
**[14:32] I**
No!
**[14:33] I**
If I don't, you'll bring death upon yourself!
**[14:40] I**
I have learned what death means.
**[14:43] I**
It is very sad.
**[14:51] I**
It's sad, so...
**[14:53] I**
I don't want to lose you!
**[14:57] Kongou**
Don't touch me!
**[15:13] Kongou**
Why does someone like you
exist among the Fog?
**[15:20] I**
I don't know.
**[15:23] I**
That's why I've continued my journey.
**[15:29] I**
And I have learned...
**[15:32] I**
both joy and grief.
**[15:36] Kongou**
The Fog must be united.
**[15:39] Kongou**
Free will is unnecessary.
**[15:45] Kongou**
Having free will... would make us human!
**[15:50] I**
You're too set in your ways.
**[15:53] I**
Why do you reject change?!
**[15:56] Kongou**
"Change"?
**[15:58] Kongou**
I call this a malfunction!
**[16:02] I**
That's not true!
**[16:04] Kongou**
Then what is this agony that
disrupts my mental processes?
**[16:08] Kongou**
I feel as though I'll be crushed
**[16:10] Kongou**
by the anger and grief
surging from within!
**[16:39] I**
Kongou...
**[17:00] Kongou**
What is with you?
**[17:06] Kongou**
Such a bother.
**[17:17] Kongou**
The remaining energy of
the supergravity cannon
**[17:21] Kongou**
will obliterate both of our cores.
**[17:32] Kongou**
Disappear with me.
**[17:36] G**
Fire!
**[17:46] Hyu**
What about Sister Iona?!
**[17:47] Kyo**
We'd never let her get hit!
**[17:49] G**
Iona!
**[17:52] I**
Gunzou...
**[18:02] Kongou**
Your readings are off the charts.
**[18:04] Kongou**
Where have you been storing so much power?
**[18:07] I**
Even without any of my power...
**[18:11] I**
the will to stop you...
**[18:14] I**
is moving me forward!
**[18:21] I**
Kongou...
**[18:23] ---**
Here I come.
**[18:34] Kongou**
Cheater!
**[18:36] Kongou**
Don't... touch me!
**[18:47] Kongou**
Why?!
**[18:48] Kongou**
Why can't things stay the way they are?!
**[18:51] Kongou**
I don't need change!
**[18:53] Kongou**
I don't need relationships!
**[18:54] Kongou**
I was fine being alone!
**[18:56] Kongou**
I never wanted to become
aware of the outside world!
**[19:09] Kongou**
Why...
**[19:13] I**
Kongou...
**[19:14] Kongou**
Stop!
**[19:53] I**
It's going to be okay.
**[19:56] I**
If we can connect,
**[19:59] I**
and understand each other...
**[20:02] I**
you don't have to be afraid anymore.
**[20:05] Kongou**
What's the point of
understanding each other?
**[20:09] I**
Then we can become friends.
**[20:39] Kongou**
I see.
**[20:53] Shizuka**
Confirming Iona's call sign...
**[20:57] Shizuka**
Mental model Iona...
**[21:00] Shizuka**
is alive!
**[21:01] All**
Yeah!
**[21:02] ?**
Jeez.
**[21:04] Iori**
Yes!
**[21:08] G**
Iona...
**[21:21] I**
Kongou...
**[21:23] Kongou**
Yes.
**[21:25] I**
Come with us, Kongou.
**[21:29] Kongou**
That...
**[21:32] Kongou**
is still difficult for me to accept right now.
**[21:38] Kongou**
It'll be all right.
**[21:40] Kongou**
Even if we're apart, we're connected.
**[21:45] Kongou**
I believe we've always been.
**[21:50] Kongou**
If I get lonely, I'll come by for tea.
**[21:54] I**
Okay.
**[21:59] Kongou**
401,
**[22:01] Kongou**
what norms constitute
the basis for your existence?
**[22:06] I**
My own will.
**[22:09] Kongou**
I see.
**[22:11] Kongou**
Thank you.
**[23:28] G**
Hey, Iona.
**[23:31] G**
Do you remember the time we met?
**[23:34] I**
I do.
**[23:36] G**
How did I look?
**[23:39] I**
You looked pathetic.
**[23:41] G**
Back then, I wanted to bring
change to this world.
**[23:48] I**
Do you think you succeeded?
**[23:51] G**
Yes, the world will change.
**[23:54] G**
Thank you, Iona.
***SIGN*** Thank you for watching!
***SIGN*** Illustration by Ark Performance