E43 - Declaration of War

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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    Free Planets Alliance Capital Heinessen
[00:18] Maid
    Your Majesty, it's time for your medicine.
SIGN    Legend of the Galactic Heroes
[01:59] Reinhard
    A decision made in error can only be
    corrected through the proper punishment.
[02:04] Reinhard
    It is neither negotiation nor persuasion
    that criminals need.
[02:08] Reinhard
    They lack the ability and will
    to understand such things.
[02:12] Reinhard
    The only thing that can
    enlighten them is power.
[02:16] Reinhard
    Henceforth,
[02:18] Reinhard
    no matter how much blood is shed,
[02:21] Reinhard
    know that all responsibility
[02:23] Reinhard
    lies with the foolish kidnappers
    and those who worked with them.
[02:27] Kaplan
    Turn that off!
[02:29] Kaplan
    What is the meaning of this?
SIGN    Free Planets Alliance High Council
[02:31] Kaplan
    This is essentially a declaration of war
    against the Free Planets Alliance!
[02:36] Doumec
    If we recognize this Legitimate
    Galactic Empire Government,
[02:39] Doumec
    we can use the emperor as a
    diplomatic bargaining chip.
[02:43] Doumec
    That was what you told us!
[02:46] Bonet
    It most likely means Duke Lohengramm
[02:48] Bonet
    never had any intention of
    stepping onto the game board.
[02:52] Kaplan
    How can you be so complacent?
[02:54] Kaplan
    That blond brat is threatening us,
    and backing it with violence!
[02:59] Bonet
    Yes, but if you think about
    it realistically—
SIGN    Walter Islands
[03:02] Trunicht
    All right, all right. That's enough.
[03:06] Trunicht
    No matter how much time we spend
    disparaging the enemy here,
[03:09] Trunicht
    it won't overturn the decision
    we've already made.
[03:14] Kaplan
    B-But, Chairman...
[03:16] Doumec
    That would mean admitting to our mistake!
[03:21] Doumec
    What about our approval rati—
    I mean, the next election?
[03:27] Trunicht
    Oh, just leave that to me.
SIGN    Episode 43
SIGN    Declaration of War
[03:41] NewscasterA
    The reactions to the acceptance of
    the defected Erwin von Goldenbaum
[03:44] Woman
    Where have you been?
[03:44] NewscasterA
    and the establishment of the
    Legitimate Galactic Empire Government...
[03:48] NewscasterB
    In response, the Alliance government
[03:50] NewscasterB
    has repeatedly said that this move
    is both just and reasonable...
[03:53] NewscasterC
    The High Council's approval ratings
[03:55] NewscasterC
    have seen a slight increase,
    despite expectations.
[03:58] NewscasterD
    The view that this is effectively
[04:00] NewscasterD
    a declaration of war by the
    new Imperial government...
[04:03] Construction Worker
    They oughta send him back.
    It's not too late.
[04:06] Construction Worker
    Those guys are ready to fight!
[04:08] Rich LadyA
    Trunicht excels in leadership
    and decision-making.
[04:12] Rich LadyA
    We can trust him to handle it.
[04:14] SchoolgirlA
    He's so adorable. And he's only seven!
[04:18] SchoolgirlA
    We have to protect him from that despot.
[04:20] SchoolgirlB
    Yeah.
[04:21] Old Man
    Now that they've taken him in,
    they need to see their actions through.
[04:26] ActivistA
    We never recognized any
    government in exile!
[04:29] ActivistA
    Make the people's voices
    heard in the election!
[04:32] ActivistB
    The despotic Empire is an
    enemy we must defeat!
[04:34] ActivistB
    Now is the time to spread democracy
    throughout the universe!
[04:39] Guy
    To be honest, I'm scared.
[04:42] Guy
    I might be drafted into the navy.
[04:46] Girl
    If you are,
[04:49] Girl
    I'll ask to join the same unit.
[04:51] Guy
    Huh?
[04:52] Professor
    The very existence of our
    democracy-loving nation
[04:55] Professor
    is a rejection of despotism.
[04:59] Professor
    Sheltering the young emperor is
    only the humane thing to do.
[05:02] College StudentA
    Humane?
[05:04] College StudentA
    How many soldiers do you think are
    gonna die to protect one kid?!
[05:09] Professor
    That is their job.
[05:11] College StudentA
    What?!
[05:13] College StudentB
    Screw that!
[05:15] College StudentA
    That's just wrong!
[05:17] College StudentC
    No, the professor's right!
[05:18] College StudentA
    What?!
[05:20] Protest1 Leader
    Why don't you understand?!
[05:22] Protest1 Leader
    That child will invite
    the enemy to attack us!
[05:25] Protest2 Leader
    To protect the noble cause of democracy,
[05:28] Protest2 Leader
    we should fight to the very last man!
[05:31] Punk Girl
    Doesn't it seem like a trap?
[05:33] Punk Girl
    Like they sent their emperor
    kid here on purpose?
[05:37] Punk Guy
    Wait, what's this news about?
[05:39] Punk Girl
    Dude, come on...
[05:40] Trunicht
    We must protect ourselves
    from a great threat.
[05:44] CustomerA
    I always thought
    Chairman Trunicht had potential.
[05:49] CustomerB
    Huh?
[05:49] CustomerB
    He's just a philistine who's
    good at sensationalism.
[05:57] Male Announcer
    Even as the Empire's dictator made
    the snap decision to attack,
[06:01] Male Announcer
    public opinion in our own nation
    has fallen into disarray,
[06:04] Male Announcer
    and there's no time to reconcile.
[06:07] PanelistA
    We should send the emperor
    back immediately.
[06:10] PanelistA
    We must avoid letting Heinessen
    become a battle zone.
[06:13] PanelistB
    I don't know about that.
[06:16] PanelistB
    Think about the Empire's recent attack.
[06:19] PanelistB
    If it had led to the fall of Iserlohn Fortress,
    we would have faced a crisis,
[06:24] PanelistB
    but Admiral Yang Wen-li fought them off.
[06:28] PanelistB
    So long as he is at Iserlohn Fortress,
    we have nothing to fear.
[06:31] PanelistC
    That's right. If we keep winning,
    we can protect the child emperor,
[06:35] PanelistC
    plus we can use him as a bargaining chip.
[06:38] PanelistC
    Of course! Couldn't we let
    Admiral Yang do that himself,
[06:42] PanelistC
    as a fellow military man?
[06:44] PanelistA
    Are you mad?!
[06:46] PanelistC
    Excuse me?
[06:47] PanelistB
    No matter how you may feel,
    this is not a problem.
[06:51] PanelistB
    Chairman Trunicht won the last election,
    and he accepted the defectors.
[06:55] PanelistB
    That means it's the will of the people.
[06:58] PanelistB
    The military should fight as
    that will dictates, and win.
[07:00] PanelistB
    That's how war has worked in our democratic
    republic for the past 150 years.
[07:07] Lebello
    Arle Heinessen fled the Empire
[07:09] Lebello
    and its established structure of nobles and
    commoners—that is, rulers and subjects—
[07:17] Lebello
    and founded the Alliance as a
    bastion of freedom and democracy.
[07:21] Lebello
    Considering the way this
    country came about,
[07:23] Lebello
    we're in no place to harbor misgivings
    about this war with the Empire.
[07:27] Huang
    Hmm...
[07:29] Huang
    Just what is the problem, then?
[07:31] Lebello
    That democracy in our nation
    has become hollow,
[07:34] Lebello
    and the void was filled with the
    egoism of politicians trying to save themselves.
[07:41] Huang
    You really don't hold back since
    you're out of power now, huh?
[07:44] Lebello
    It's no laughing matter!
[07:46] Lebello
    Civilian control is indispensable when
    a democratic nation goes to war,
[07:50] Lebello
    but that doesn't mean turning our
    servicemen into political pawns.
[07:53] Lebello
    What they should die to protect
    is the principles of democracy,
[07:57] Lebello
    not the interests of politicians.
[07:59] Lebello
    The discontent building up within
    the military is substantial.
[08:02] Lebello
    Last year's coup d'état is proof of that.
[08:05] Huang
    Ah, the National Salvation Military Council.
[08:08] Lebello
    Admiral Yang Wen-li just barely
    managed to quash it,
[08:12] Lebello
    but the same thing could
    happen again at any time.
[08:15] Huang
    Good thing Yang isn't a fan of
    unlawful government upheavals.
[08:19] Lebello
    Yes, exactly!
[08:22] Lebello
    What if it happens lawfully next time?
[08:26] Lebello
    If Yang Wen-li were to
    turn to politics now,
[08:30] Lebello
    he would earn the enthusiastic
    support of the people.
[08:33] Lebello
    But just think about it.
[08:36] Lebello
    What happens when a former military
    hero legally takes over as leader?
[08:42] Lebello
    We know the answer entirely too well!
[08:50] Huang
    So what you're saying is that
[08:51] Huang
    you're worried Yang would become
    a dictator just like Rudolf.
[08:56] Huang
    What an intriguing concept.
[08:58] Lebello
    You can keep laughing until
    it actually happens,
[09:02] Lebello
    but I've seen such laughter die
    in the throat many times in my life.
[09:08] Huang
    Lebello... That's the thing about you.
[09:12] Huang
    You're an above-average politician,
[09:14] Huang
    but your sense of humor is lacking.
[09:18] Lebello
    Then what is your opinion as a man
    with a sense of humor, Mr. Huang?
[09:22] Huang
    Hmm...
[09:25] Huang
    First of all, to make the cocktail known
    as a "dictator" requires several components.
[09:32] Huang
    A sense of duty and conviction, to the
    point that one could call them dogmatic.
[09:37] Huang
    The talent to express, to the fullest
    extent, their own idea of what is right.
[09:41] Huang
    The subjectivity to judge enemies
[09:44] Huang
    not as enemies of their own,
    but as enemies of justice.
[09:47] Huang
    That's about it.
[09:49] Lebello
    I see...
[09:51] Lebello
    And as far as Yang Wen-li goes?
[09:54] Huang
    I don't think he could pull it off.
[09:57] Huang
    The young man called Yang Wen-li
    is quite a tasty cocktail,
[10:01] Huang
    but he lacks the spirits that are
    essential to making a dictator.
[10:06] Huang
    Of course, it's not an issue
    of intelligence or morality.
[10:10] Huang
    It's the conviction of
    his own infallibility
[10:13] Huang
    and the love of power.
[10:15] Huang
    He lacks both of those.
[10:18] Huang
    Though my views may be biased...
[10:23] Waiter
    Your white fish soup, sir.
[10:27] Huang
    Thank you.
[10:31] Lebello
    Are you sure he doesn't have conviction
    of his own infallibility?
[10:36] Lebello
    In the recent inquiry hearing,
[10:38] Lebello
    he was quite daring and courageous
    for one standing accused,
[10:41] Lebello
    and quite eloquent, as well.
[10:43] Lebello
    You told me this yourself.
[10:47] Lebello
    Did you not?
[10:49] Huang
    Hmm?
[10:50] Huang
    Oh, yes, I did.
[10:52] Huang
    But he only behaved that way
    in opposition to the inquiry.
[10:56] Huang
    He didn't throw down the gauntlet himself.
[10:59] Huang
    Speaking strictly of that situation,
[11:01] Huang
    he was indeed an outstanding tactician,
[11:04] Huang
    but he could not be called a strategist.
[11:07] Huang
    A strategist would try to get anyone
    on his side, no matter how foolish,
[11:11] Huang
    for the sake of using them later.
[11:14] Huang
    But our young man, Yang Wen-li,
[11:17] Huang
    looked a pig in the eye
    and called him a pig.
[11:22] Huang
    For a human, that's good enough.
[11:24] Huang
    Humans can retain their dignity by getting
    angry when it's right to be angry.
[11:30] Huang
    But here, there are far too many
    sad examples in our past...
[11:36] Huang
    Examples of people who sold off their
    own self-respect for a quick profit.
[11:44] Huang
    Yang Wen-li can never be a dictator.
[11:47] Huang
    At the very least, he himself
    does not wish to become one.
[11:51] Lebello
    You can't guarantee that things will unfold
    according to what one person wants.
[11:57] Huang
    Exactly.
[11:58] Huang
    And that doesn't go exclusively
    for Yang Wen-li, either.
[12:02] Huang
    You're no exception to the
    rule yourself, Lebello.
[12:06] Lebello
    What do you mean by that?
[12:08] Huang
    It seems Admiral Yang is the only
    thing you're worried about,
[12:11] Huang
    but if he really were to end
    up an unwilling dictator
[12:15] Huang
    and bring an end to
    our democratic republic...
[12:19] Huang
    What course of action would you take?
[12:27] Lebello
    What?
[12:28] Huang
    Oh, I'm sorry.
[12:30] Huang
    That's one of the things I
    find charming about you.
[12:34] Lebello
    I get the feeling you've been
    teasing me this whole time.
[12:38] Huang
    No, I'm complimenting you.
[12:40] Huang
    What's troubling you right now is one of
    the greatest questions humanity faces.
[12:47] Lebello
    And that is?
[12:50] Huang
    Should one side with the corrupt democracy
    or the pristine dictatorship?
[12:58] Lebello
    Under the Lohengramm order, at least,
[13:02] Lebello
    the Empire's citizens are freed from the worst
    kind of government: a corrupt autocracy.
[13:09] Lebello
    Where is the meaning in a democratic nation
[13:12] Lebello
    trying to take down an autocracy
    backed by its people?
[13:17] Huang
    You see? That's exactly
    what I'm talking about!
[13:20] Huang
    Let's call it a night.
    This was a delightful dinner.
[13:25] Huang
    If it's left a bad taste in your mouth,
    it's because of the soup.
[13:29] Huang
    Until next time.
[13:41] Protester2
    We oppose his acceptance!
[13:41] Protester3
    Get out of here, Galactic Empire!
[13:41] Protester1
    Send the emperor back to the Empire!
[13:44] Protester5
    Dissolve the council and listen to the people!
[13:45] Protester4
    Restore freedom and democracy!
[13:45] Protester6
    Send him back! Send him back!
    Send him back!
SIGN    Legitimate Galactic Empire Government Cabinet Meeting
[13:48] Hohsinger
    What is the deal with this child?!
[13:52] Hohsinger
    There's nothing lovable about him!
[13:54] Herder
    Stop that.
[13:55] Herder
    You may not like it, but it's your job
    to provide counsel to His Majesty.
[14:00] Hohsinger
    I will not stop!
[14:02] Hohsinger
    He's arrogant, he's violent,
[14:03] Hohsinger
    and he doesn't know who he has to thank
    for the fact that he's still emperor!
[14:10] Carnap
    Still...
[14:12] Carnap
    For an emperor to do so little to encourage
    the loyalty of his subjects...
[14:16] Carnap
    Will His Majesty be able to keep himself
    safe when it becomes necessary?
[14:22] Ratburg
    What a load of lip service.
[14:25] Ratburg
    It's written all over your face that it's
    your own self you're worried about.
[14:31] Carnap
    How could you say such a thing?
    I would never—
[14:33] Remscheid
    Enough.
[14:35] Remscheid
    The Free Planets Alliance's politicians,
    businessmen, journalists...
[14:40] Remscheid
    The nobles and their
    subjects who wish to defect
[14:42] Remscheid
    to the Legitimate Government
    through Fezzan...
[14:46] Remscheid
    All of them are clamoring for
    an audience with His Majesty.
[14:50] Remscheid
    But we cannot allow them
    to do so as things stand.
[14:54] Remscheid
    That said, to protect our future,
[14:56] Remscheid
    we need to foster favorable feelings
    for His Majesty among the people.
[15:01] Hohsinger
    What do you suggest we do, then?
[15:08] NobleladyA
    Oh, Your Majesty...
[15:10] NobleladyB
    How beautiful he is.
[15:13] NobleladyA
    He looks just like an angel.
[15:16] NobleladyB
    He truly does.
[15:17] Old Noble
    It was worth coming so far to see him.
[15:21] NobleladyA
    Yes.
[15:23] Shumacher
    Now, if you don't mind,
    His Majesty is quite tired.
[15:28] Shumacher
    You will need to complete the official
    asylum paperwork at the executive office.
[15:32] Nobles
    Of course.
[15:40] Shumacher
    A puppet who's merely been drugged
    to sleep is an "angel"?
[15:44] Shumacher
    If they take one step outside,
[15:46] Shumacher
    they'll be overwhelmed by the protests
[15:48] Shumacher
    of Alliance citizens who refuse to
    acknowledge the government in exile.
[15:53] Shumacher
    What must a seven-year-old child
[15:57] Shumacher
    be dreaming about at a time like this?
[16:04] Islands
    Even the acceptance of
[16:06] Islands
    the government in exile—no, the Legitimate
    Galactic Empire Government—
[16:09] Islands
    hasn't had a significant effect on the
    High Council's approval ratings.
[16:13] Islands
    Of course, we can't ignore the
    actions of those opposed to it,
[16:16] Islands
    but the speech you
    gave to announce its acceptance
[16:20] Islands
    ensured that it would earn more support
    than opposition from the public.
[16:27] Islands
    There are many among the
    Legitimate Government
[16:29] Islands
    who have lost patience with
    His Majesty's obnoxious attitude,
[16:34] Islands
    but that does not harm the political
    value he holds for us.
[16:39] Islands
    Duke Lohengramm aside,
[16:41] Islands
    I believe there are many among the
    Imperial Navy who would hesitate
[16:45] Islands
    to point a gun at their young emperor.
[16:50] Trunicht
    Islands, it's no use clinging
    to such wishful thinking now.
[16:57] Trunicht
    Duke Lohengramm's declaration put an end
    to any chance we had at negotiating.
[17:02] Trunicht
    At this point, the only possibly solution
[17:05] Trunicht
    is diplomacy's last resort—
    that is, military action.
[17:10] Trunicht
    The Free Planets Alliance is
    currently backed into a corner.
[17:14] Islands
    Th-That's...
[17:16] Islands
    Sir, I am endlessly in awe of
    your discerning eye, but...
[17:21] Trunicht
    There's no need to get flustered.
[17:24] Trunicht
    What we ought to do is abandon our
    reservations toward the military
[17:27] Trunicht
    and take this as an opportunity to enhance the
    administration's influence on its people.
[17:33] Trunicht
    If we wish to protect our
    democratic republic,
[17:35] Trunicht
    now is the time to demonstrate our authority,
    even if it looks a bit heavy-handed.
[17:40] Trunicht
    Am I wrong?
[17:42] Islands
    No, sir... You are absolutely right.
[17:47] Na
    Having heard Duke Reinhard von Lohengramm's
    declaration of his intent to attack,
[17:52] Na
    the top brass of the Alliance Navy
[17:53] Na
    had no choice but to capitulate
    to the government's coercion
[17:56] Na
    and conduct a major personnel overhaul.
[18:02] Na
    The Integrated Tactical Operations
    Center Chief, Admiral Cubersly,
[18:06] Na
    retired due to illness.
[18:08] Na
    He was succeeded by Admiral Dawson,
    who had filled in for him in the past.
[18:15] Na
    Dawson's installation was likened
    to Trunicht's administration,
[18:19] Na
    resulting in backlash from many
    who saw it as collusion.
[18:25] Na
    Though the personnel reforms
[18:27] Na
    did not reach the level of
    Fleet Commander-in-Chief Bewcock,
[18:31] Na
    they did indirectly extend to Iserlohn
    Fortress Commander Yang Wen-li,
[18:35] Na
    and one day, this reverberated over
    his head like a thunderclap.
[18:40] Admiral
    Warrant Officer Julian Mintz
    will be promoted to ensign,
[18:44] Admiral
    and he is hereby assigned to the commissioner's
    office in Fezzan as a military attaché.
[18:48] Admiral
    He is to report to Fezzan by October 15th.
[19:00] (Flashback) Walter
    What do you say?
    It doesn't matter what title we give you.
[19:03] (Flashback) Walter
    Why not become a dictator who protects
    the practical parts of democracy?
[19:09] (Flashback) Walter
    Just being a military man
    isn't your style, honestly.
[19:14] (Flashback) Walter
    And despite that, you're doing
    remarkably well at it.
[19:17] (Flashback) Walter
    I bet you'd be pretty good
    at being a dictator, too.
[19:28] Yang
    Damn it!
[19:29] Yang
    As long as we just sit around keeping quiet,
[19:31] Yang
    the world's going to keep filling
    up with arrogant assholes ad infinitum!
[19:35] Yang
    Maybe being a dictator wouldn't be so bad.
[19:37] Yang
    Yeah, one with an iron fist!
[19:42] Yang
    Come in.
[19:45] Frederica
    I heard about Julian.
[19:50] Yang
    Sorry to ask, but could you
    get Julian in here for me?
[19:55] Frederica
    Yes, sir...
[19:57] Frederica
    Um...
[19:59] Yang
    Yeah.
[20:00] Yang
    I know what you want to say... I think.
[20:04] Yang
    That's why I'd like you
    to get Julian for me.
[20:11] Frederica
    Understood.
[20:14] Julian
    So refuse the order!
[20:19] Yang
    Julian, if you were a civilian
    working for the military,
[20:22] Yang
    your appointments and relocations
    would be up to your local commander.
[20:26] Yang
    But you're an official military man now.
[20:29] Yang
    You're obligated to follow the orders
    of the National Defense Committee
[20:32] Yang
    and the Integrated Tactical
    Operations Center.
[20:34] Yang
    Don't make me remind you of
    something so fundamental now.
[20:39] Julian
    Even if their orders are unreasonable?
[20:41] Yang
    What's unreasonable about it?
[20:45] Julian
    If that's how it is, I'll go back to being a civilian.
[20:48] Julian
    Then I won't have to obey
    this order, right?
[20:54] Yang
    Julian, Julian...
[20:57] Yang
    I know you know better than
    to think that would work.
[21:02] Yang
    First of all, you joined the
    military because you wanted to.
[21:06] Yang
    Nobody forced you.
[21:08] Yang
    That makes it a given that you should
    be prepared to follow orders.
[21:15] Julian
    Understood. I'll accept the appointment
    in Fezzan as a military attaché.
[21:20] Julian
    But not because it's an order from the
    Integrated Tactical Operations Center.
[21:24] Julian
    Because it's an order from you!
[21:31] Julian
    If that was all you wanted to say,
    may I take my leave, Your Excellency?
[21:36] Yang
    Yes.
[21:37] Julian
    Thank you.
[21:49] Alex
    He seems unusually withdrawn.
SIGN    Well, you can't blame him,
SIGN    given the circumstances.
[21:57] Alex
    True.
[21:58] Alex
    I'm not sure what to say to him.
[22:05] Frederica
    Here you are.
[22:07] Frederica
    I can't make it as well
    as the experts, but...
[22:10] Yang
    Oh, it's fine... Thanks.
[22:16] Frederica
    I understand how Julian feels.
[22:18] Yang
    Huh?
[22:20] Frederica
    He must have felt as if you
    didn't need him anymore.
[22:28] Yang
    What? Don't need him anymore?
[22:32] Yang
    Of course that's not true!
[22:35] Yang
    It's not about sending him away
    because I don't need him anymore,
[22:38] Yang
    or only keeping him around
    because I need him.
[22:43] Yang
    It's about keeping him around even if
    I don't need him... no, I mean...
[22:47] Yang
    Needing someone isn't about whether
    they're useful to you or not...
[22:54] Frederica
    Admiral.
SIGN    Episode 44
SIGN    Departure
[25:01] Na
    Next time, "Departure."