# E4 - Elite Stronghold
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GR24QZ0J6/elite-fortress)
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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.)
**[00:12] ---**
The Magnificent
KOTOBUKI
**[00:19] ---**
Kumo to kumo amime o nukete
**[00:22] ---**
Odoru hane kaze o matou
**[00:26] ---**
Me no mae de hoshi ga ochiteiku
**[00:35] ---**
Akogareta aoi ao
**[00:39] ---**
Nijimu chihyou keriageta
**[00:42] ---**
Kikasete yo kimi dake no sora no ne o
**[00:49] ---**
Tobidatsu jyuuryoku o mikata ni tsukete
**[00:56] ---**
Mou ichido nando demo warai nagara
**[01:03] ---**
Bokura wa ushiro o muite tobou to wa shinai
**[01:10] ---**
Tsukinai yume asu o otte ikiru
**[01:15] ---**
Waita zetsubou ni ai o tozashita
**[01:18] ---**
Yowai boku wa kirai da
**[01:21] ---**
Nagareru ima mukau saki wa mirai
**[01:31] ---**
Elite Fortress
**[01:32] ---**
Fly forth, KOTOBUKI Corps!
**[01:36] ---**
Tomorrow is the day we have waited for!
**[01:40] ---**
Now one pancake! Two pancakes!
Three and four and five pancakes!
**[01:43] ---**
Yes we, we are the KOTOBUKI-
**[01:48] ---**
Enough of your tone-deaf nonsense already!
**[01:50] ---**
Nothing can stop a good song once it starts!
**[01:53] ---**
Plus, squeezing you aboard has already
thrown my fuel efficiency into a nosedive.
**[01:56] ---**
Don't make it worse by complaining!
**[01:56] ---**
A nosedive?
**[01:57] ---**
I don't weigh that much, you know!
**[01:59] ---**
You weigh how many pounds, again?
**[02:01] ---**
It's not by choice.
**[02:02] ---**
Unlike you I merely have a
more full figure, is all.
**[02:17] ---**
Don't forget, this is all because you went
and got shot down yourself!
**[02:21] ---**
Our wings are rays of light!
**[02:23] ---**
Stop-!
**[02:25] ---**
Kylie!
**[02:31] ---**
Settle down, Kylie!
**[02:32] ---**
One of my flaps was feeling a little stuck
so I'm just trying to shake it loose!
**[02:35] ---**
That's not fair, Kylie!
**[02:37] ---**
Reona, my right flap feels off, too!
**[02:39] ---**
And my rudder seems rather tight.
**[02:49] ---**
These girls...
**[02:50] ---**
Where's the harm in it?
**[02:51] ---**
I won't pretend I don't feel the same way.
**[02:53] ---**
We haven't had any time to
fly off the clock in a while.
**[02:57] ---**
Technically we're still "on the clock"
until we get that Raiden back.
**[03:00] ---**
Still, it's been a good while since we've taken
our Hayabusas out for such a long flight.
**[03:05] ---**
We need to fly free like
that every now and again.
**[03:09] ---**
To remind ourselves how
free the great blue sky is.
**[03:11] ---**
And that we only get to fly through it
because of that freedom.
**[03:15] ---**
Freedom doesn't come cheap, though.
**[03:16] ---**
And that's what makes it precious.
**[03:18] ---**
Now then!
**[03:19] ---**
Zara!
**[03:20] ---**
Sheesh...
**[03:40] ---**
What's your problem, cargo gal?
**[03:41] ---**
Well...
**[03:43] ---**
Will it still be a ways
to the Roota Airfield?
**[03:45] ---**
Huh, I dunno. Why?
**[03:47] ---**
N-no reason. Just...
**[03:52] ---**
Well pardon me, girls,
but Emma here needs to visit the ladies room!
**[03:57] ---**
Can she hold it just a bit longer?
**[03:59] ---**
We should make it in
another ten minutes or so.
**[04:02] ---**
I think she's good!
**[04:04] ---**
Roota is a great big place.
A really lovely airfield.
**[04:08] ---**
You sure know a lot about it.
**[04:10] ---**
Have you been out to Roota before?
**[04:11] ---**
Way back when the Corps
was just me and Reona.
**[04:15] ---**
It was always so lively.
**[04:16] ---**
And always stocked up with
plenty of vending machines.
**[04:19] ---**
Any with curry udon?!
**[04:20] ---**
There should be.
**[04:21] ---**
And burgers?
**[04:23] ---**
You bet.
**[04:23] ---**
What about pancakes?
**[04:24] ---**
But of course!
**[04:25] ---**
Yippee!
**[04:26] ---**
Curry udon!
**[04:45] ---**
I can handle this.
**[04:46] ---**
Do I have your permission, Reona?
**[04:47] ---**
Sure.
**[05:21] ---**
Hey! That's my plane you just kicked there!
**[05:24] ---**
Uhmm...
**[05:25] ---**
That way.
**[05:26] ---**
Pardon me...
**[05:28] ---**
Hey, you old fart!
**[05:30] ---**
Is that how you greet people out here?!
**[05:32] ---**
Sorry, I thought those rascals might be back.
**[05:36] ---**
The stinkin' pirates that left
Roota in a mess like this.
**[05:39] ---**
Was it Elite Industries?
**[05:42] ---**
Those morons pretending
they're running some sort of business?
**[05:45] ---**
Nah, it wasn't them.
**[05:46] ---**
It was a scarier lot than that.
**[05:49] ---**
They just flew in, hit our
main facilities, and took off.
**[05:53] ---**
What about the pancakes?
**[05:53] ---**
What about the udon?
**[05:53] ---**
What about the burgers?
**[05:59] ---**
Nooo!
**[06:04] ---**
No...
**[06:06] ---**
How could this be?
**[06:08] ---**
I wondered what you might be screaming about.
**[06:09] ---**
This is unforgivable!
**[06:11] ---**
Unforgivable!
**[06:12] ---**
First they shoot up Rahama,
and now my pancakes?!
**[06:14] ---**
These were two different groups, though.
**[06:16] ---**
Plus, I figured we could
all eat together here...
**[06:20] ---**
So I went ahead and packed
enough for everyone.
**[06:23] ---**
This is so good!
**[06:24] ---**
The best!
**[06:25] ---**
True bliss. Everything is delicious.
**[06:27] ---**
Is this the first time you girls have
ever had some of Zara's cooking?
**[06:29] ---**
Yep!
**[06:30] ---**
Oh yes.
**[06:30] ---**
I never would have imagined
you had such a knack for it!
**[06:33] ---**
Thanks.
**[06:34] ---**
I picked it up a long while back.
**[06:36] ---**
I used to work at an airfield like this.
**[06:39] ---**
That's where I first met Reona, actually.
**[06:41] ---**
Really?
**[06:42] ---**
I never knew.
**[06:43] ---**
Which airfield?
**[06:44] ---**
Sapo.
**[06:45] ---**
Sapo was tiny, but it
sure was a good airfield.
**[06:48] ---**
It was.
**[06:49] ---**
A good place indeed.
**[06:53] ---**
It sounded like you knew
about Elite Industries well enough.
**[06:57] ---**
We're trying to sneak into
their stronghold unnoticed, see...
**[07:00] ---**
That'll be hard to pull off.
**[07:01] ---**
They're holed up in a cave they've carved out
of this big stone mountain.
**[07:04] ---**
A real natural fortress.
**[07:07] ---**
We should just fly straight in,
bust 'em up, take the Raiden and leave!
**[07:10] ---**
And what if they fly the
Raiden out to fight us?
**[07:12] ---**
Do you wanna pull a mid-air hijack
like that boss of theirs?
**[07:14] ---**
No way!
**[07:15] ---**
Absolutely not.
**[07:17] ---**
It would be hard to return this
if we went in guns blazing, too.
**[07:19] ---**
And what might that be?
**[07:21] ---**
An "ukiyo-e," apparently...
**[07:22] ---**
Drawn by some young lady, it would seem.
**[07:24] ---**
Their little empress, there?
**[07:25] ---**
You've met her?
**[07:26] ---**
Nah, but she's the girl their boss
spends all his money on.
**[07:29] ---**
The whole lot of 'em grow soft
as kittens in her presence.
**[07:34] ---**
She's gotta be nothing but bad news.
**[07:36] ---**
Well at any rate, we can't attack without
scouting the place out first.
**[07:39] ---**
We need to find some way to get close.
**[07:41] ---**
Well lookie here, we've got another visitor.
**[07:52] ---**
We were supposed to be performing
for a company dinner!
**[07:54] ---**
You never said it was for
a company of air pirates!
**[07:56] ---**
What's their deal?
**[07:56] ---**
Come on!
**[07:56] ---**
They're a traveling tavern.
**[07:57] ---**
I said no!
**[07:58] ---**
Please!
**[07:58] ---**
Elite Industries throws these "pub"-licity events
and calls out all these gals, see.
**[07:59] ---**
I'll pay you extra for it and
everything, come on, I'm begging you!
**[08:02] ---**
No way!
**[08:02] ---**
Absolutely not!
**[08:03] ---**
I ain't heard nothing but bad things.
**[08:06] ---**
But whaddya expect from
a bunch of air pirates?
**[08:08] ---**
Ack, what am I gonna do?
**[08:10] ---**
These are air pirates we're dealing with,
I can't just go back on our deal now...
**[08:13] ---**
We can't put on a performance
with numbers like these!
**[08:22] ---**
Get a load of this!
**[08:23] ---**
This is another masterpiece
if I've ever seen one!
**[08:25] ---**
It's so cool! So incredible!
**[08:29] ---**
What about it do you find so incredible?
**[08:30] ---**
Well, you know... All of it!
**[08:34] ---**
Listen, I'm gonna make sure
the whole world out there
**[08:37] ---**
sees just how amazing your work is!
**[08:39] ---**
That's a promise!
**[08:44] ---**
Maybe I'm no good at this after all.
**[09:04] ---**
Ladies and gents the moment you
have all waited for is here!
**[09:07] ---**
Behold the Agua Dance Troupe!
**[09:08] ---**
They're finally here!
**[09:11] ---**
Hello there! Thank you all
for such a lively welcome!
**[09:15] ---**
Smooch!
**[09:17] ---**
The Magnificent
KOTOBUKI
**[09:47] ---**
Well, color me surprised.
**[09:50] ---**
I never imagined you could dance like that.
**[09:51] ---**
Let's just say I've got experience.
**[09:55] ---**
It's a real work of art, eh there, new girl?
**[09:58] ---**
Now as a man of the arts I can be tough to please,
**[10:01] ---**
but you were great out there.
Lemme buy you a drink.
**[10:03] ---**
Be my guest!
**[10:04] ---**
Get us two lite beers!
**[10:06] ---**
What? I'll take a straight vodka and gin.
**[10:09] ---**
Wow!
**[10:09] ---**
That's gotta be like 50 proof!
**[10:10] ---**
She drinks harder than the boss himself!
**[10:13] ---**
I'll take it straight too, then!
**[10:14] ---**
How lovely!
**[10:16] ---**
To the arts!
**[10:17] ---**
Cheers!
**[10:20] ---**
The boss can't hold his liquor like that...
**[10:26] ---**
Jeez, boss!
**[10:27] ---**
See what I mean?
He just hates to be outdone.
**[10:30] ---**
Can't anyone here hold their drink?
**[10:32] ---**
Lemme buy you a drink!
**[10:33] ---**
I can!
**[10:33] ---**
I'll buy your next round!
**[10:33] ---**
Me, me!
**[10:36] ---**
You really are something.
**[10:38] ---**
I've just got experience.
**[10:39] ---**
Now then.
**[10:41] ---**
I need to fix my makeup.
**[10:42] ---**
Take your time!
**[10:43] ---**
Oh, I will!
**[10:48] ---**
Just my luck, getting stuck on shift today.
**[10:51] ---**
At least we're not on guard duty.
**[11:02] ---**
The boss and the young lady are
the only ones with the keys, yes?
**[11:06] ---**
Why don't we rig it to blow, too?
**[11:09] ---**
Perhaps as a last resort.
**[11:11] ---**
A broken Raiden won't do
us much good, now will it?
**[11:19] ---**
You...!
**[11:20] ---**
Sorry for snooping.
**[11:22] ---**
I just didn't want to
break your focus, there.
**[11:25] ---**
Are you a fan of Hokusai?
**[11:28] ---**
Or maybe Kunishige?
**[11:30] ---**
You know about their works?!
**[11:31] ---**
You could say I've got a bit of experience.
**[11:33] ---**
What do you think of my art?
**[11:35] ---**
I think they might be a bit
too on-point for ukiyo-e.
**[11:39] ---**
I get the sense that ukiyo-e are more focused
on the artist's own perception.
**[11:45] ---**
But yours are more like an exact image.
**[11:48] ---**
I think that might make
them seem a little forced.
**[11:52] ---**
I still quite like these
works of yours, though.
**[11:57] ---**
One look and I can tell how much
you really love the art you do.
**[12:03] ---**
Model!
**[12:05] ---**
Will you model for me?
**[12:18] ---**
There you are! We're here!
**[12:20] ---**
We're here to assault the
base, stir up commotion,
**[12:23] ---**
and make it easier for Zara
to work from the inside.
**[12:28] ---**
Getting as close as we can
without being spotted is key.
**[12:31] ---**
This all rests on how well we can work
our way through this valley.
**[12:34] ---**
Roger!
**[12:54] ---**
C'mon!
**[12:57] ---**
Here goes!
**[13:30] ---**
We're under attack!
**[13:37] ---**
Whuzzat?!
**[13:38] ---**
We're under attack!
**[13:39] ---**
They're right on top of us!
**[13:41] ---**
Yahoo!
**[13:44] ---**
Kylie and Kate, you hit those tanks.
**[13:45] ---**
Chika and I will focus on the fighters.
**[13:47] ---**
Emma, you keep an eye to the skies for us.
**[13:48] ---**
If Zara doesn't show up in ten minutes, we all make
**[13:50] ---**
emergency landings and move in to rescue her.
**[13:52] ---**
And when we do, we abandon the Raiden.
**[13:54] ---**
Got it?
**[14:13] ---**
I've got the right side!
**[14:14] ---**
I'll take left.
**[14:24] ---**
Boss, it's the KOTOBUKI Corps!
**[14:26] ---**
Dangit! They must be after our paintings!
**[14:28] ---**
Isn't it the Raiden...?
**[14:28] ---**
It's time to send 'em home crying!
**[14:30] ---**
Suit up!
**[14:30] ---**
You know, this might just be our chance.
**[14:33] ---**
I'll handle the Raiden.
**[14:48] ---**
Yikes!
**[14:49] ---**
Doofus.
**[14:50] ---**
Shut up!
**[14:54] ---**
Here they come!
**[15:19] ---**
Are we under attack?
**[15:20] ---**
It seems that way.
**[15:24] ---**
There's no time to waste.
Hand over the key to the Raiden.
**[15:28] ---**
No...
**[15:29] ---**
The boss and his gang are all airborne now.
**[15:32] ---**
No one's gonna come help you anymore.
**[15:34] ---**
Now hand it over.
**[16:03] ---**
How dare you hurt my darling staff!
**[16:08] ---**
Where are you, Zara?
**[16:09] ---**
HR Chief, cover my rear!
**[16:13] ---**
Leave, I say, leave that to me.
**[16:22] ---**
Well, that won't do.
**[16:23] ---**
You little...!
**[16:25] ---**
My apologies, sir.
**[16:27] ---**
But due to personal circumstances,
**[16:29] ---**
I am resigning from my position at
this miserable company as of today.
**[16:33] ---**
What?! Do you think this is a joke?!
**[16:34] ---**
All of you, take down the HR Chief!
**[16:39] ---**
The HR and Sales divisions
are all on my side.
**[16:42] ---**
And after some careful discussion...
**[16:44] ---**
We decided we would take our share of Hayabusas,
Suiseis, and the Raiden as severance!
**[16:50] ---**
Our co-conspirators should be relieving
the young lady of her key right about now.
**[16:55] ---**
You've really gone and done it now!
**[17:16] ---**
Boss?!
**[17:17] ---**
Somebody cover the boss!
**[17:19] ---**
The HR Chief is a traitor!
**[17:20] ---**
The whole Sales team, too!
**[17:22] ---**
We've got trouble!
**[17:24] ---**
I'm headed back to the
ground, you cover for me!
**[17:26] ---**
Not if I have any say!
**[17:30] ---**
Was that friendly fire?!
**[17:31] ---**
They're friends no more.
**[17:32] ---**
The boss is about to get shot
down by our pals out there.
**[17:36] ---**
It's too late now.
**[17:38] ---**
Now hand it over!
**[17:40] ---**
Yeowch!
**[17:45] ---**
You...!
**[17:47] ---**
...are way too strong.
**[17:50] ---**
Who are you?
**[17:51] ---**
Zara from the KOTOBUKI Corps.
**[17:54] ---**
I'm here to take back the Raiden.
**[17:56] ---**
Sorry for hiding that from you.
**[17:57] ---**
I don't care about any of that!
**[18:00] ---**
Here's the key. Please go save him!
**[18:26] ---**
Zara!
**[18:27] ---**
Sorry I'm late. What's the situation?
**[18:29] ---**
It's a mess!
**[18:31] ---**
Whose side are we supposed to take?
**[18:33] ---**
Or are we just gonna shoot 'em all down?
**[18:35] ---**
I made a promise that we'd help out.
**[18:37] ---**
So...!
**[18:41] ---**
The Raiden?!
**[18:49] ---**
Well, there goes everything.
**[18:50] ---**
I'll get an earful for this, but so be it.
**[18:53] ---**
We failed to obtain the Raiden.
All craft, we're pulling out!
**[18:56] ---**
Like hell you are!
**[19:00] ---**
So we shoot down the Suiseis?
**[19:02] ---**
Yep, they've gone and stirred
up trouble with the boss.
**[19:05] ---**
Roger that!
**[19:10] ---**
Well, now. This won't do.
**[19:12] ---**
Stick to the course, we'll hold them off.
**[19:15] ---**
We'll meet at the rendezvous point!
**[19:25] ---**
Watch out for that rear gun!
**[19:26] ---**
I will!
**[20:31] ---**
We got what we came here for.
**[20:33] ---**
Let him go, Zara.
**[20:36] ---**
Sure.
**[20:38] ---**
Welcome back.
**[20:40] ---**
Glad I made it.
**[20:52] ---**
Sorry about all that.
**[20:54] ---**
You can have the Raiden back. I want you to.
**[20:56] ---**
Fine. Let's call it even here.
**[21:00] ---**
Let this be a lesson to ya to
start working an honest job!
**[21:05] ---**
I know, it's just...
**[21:07] ---**
We brought this along to return it,
but do you think it's okay if I keep it?
**[21:13] ---**
I'd love you to!
**[21:15] ---**
Now if only we got to get some of
that curry udon from the vending machine!
**[21:19] ---**
Agh! I almost forgot!
**[21:20] ---**
I'm sure it will all be in working order
the next time we're here.
**[21:23] ---**
I do hope so.
**[21:25] ---**
So do I! So do I!
**[21:26] ---**
Honestly though, I can't stand this sluggish,
cumbersome excuse for a plane!
**[21:30] ---**
You wanna ride in the back with me again?
**[21:32] ---**
No, I will certainly abstain from such!
**[21:34] ---**
By the time we get back to Rahama,
your Hayabusa should be good as new, Emma.
**[21:38] ---**
Just stick it out.
**[21:39] ---**
She's right. Plus, it's a
fine plane, that Raiden.
**[21:42] ---**
It's more equipped than the Hayabusa.
**[21:44] ---**
And faster!
**[21:45] ---**
I'll gladly trade.
**[21:47] ---**
No, thank you.
**[21:47] ---**
Gah!
**[21:51] ---**
We still all love our Hayabusas
best, right, girls?
**[21:53] ---**
'Course we do!
**[22:04] ---**
Ano sora o jiyuu ni kakenukete mitai to
**[22:08] ---**
Hanasaki no kaze ni negai o noseta
**[22:12] ---**
Akogare ga keshiki o tsukutteiku
**[22:16] ---**
Ano toki no kaze wa genki kanaa
**[22:25] ---**
Nan no tame ni tatakau no kana
**[22:29] ---**
Koko ni iru riyuu wa nan darou?
**[22:33] ---**
Toikaketa sora wa kotaenai kedo
**[22:42] ---**
Bokura wa tsubasa o motteiru
**[22:49] ---**
Haruka kanata nageki no shuuchakuten
**[22:53] ---**
Mitsuketa monogataritachi
**[22:58] ---**
Kono sora wa dare ni mo ubaenai
**[23:05] ---**
Boku wa kakeru nanimo kowakunai yo
**[23:10] ---**
Shiawase nara koko ni aru yo
**[23:25] ---**
Preview
**[23:33] ---**
Next time on The Magnificent KOTOBUKI,
"The Splendid Aleshma"!
**[23:38] ---**
The Splendid Aleshma