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