Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 3199 Episode 17: Episode 17

The opening sequence, an almost dizzying historical recap, quickly sets the stage. We see humanity's small steps, then rapid colonization, and the inevitable, destructive conflict with the Garmillas. This whirlwind of events culminates in the Yamato's journey, an eternal cycle of hope and despair. Each past event, from moon landings to galactic wars, rushes by, establishing a legacy of relentless struggle.

Two small ships approach a desolate planet, an asteroid field shrouding a massive Garmillas mothership. Inside, Ram Leragenra, a Garmillas general, watches intently, confirming the arrival of the enemy. His grim expression suggests more than just tactical readiness; there's a weight to his silence. Meanwhile, Supreme Commander Zordar sits in a dimly lit chamber, embodying cold authority.

The Yamato fires powerful projectiles, but the enemy is resilient. On the bridge, Shima Daisuke notes their output is dropping, struggling against the Garmillas' phase energy. Yuki Mori presses for news of the first air squadron, trapped and unseen. Kaoru Hoshina, her face etched with concern, can only report darkness and cold where their comrades should be.

Susumu Kodai maintains a focused intensity in his fighter, while Ram Leragenra's confident voice echoes, urging surrender. He pronounces them "prisoners of the phase field," with no escape. Melda Dietz, gun in hand, reports their position and the limited number of enemy ships. He acknowledges the mission's possibility, while Ram observes him with a calculating gaze.

Ram Leragenra dissects Melda's resolve, questioning his humanity, his emotional responses over logic. Melda asserts that it's not about bluffing, but about believing in the future and rejecting Dessarium's ruthless methods. Ram, seeing the impasse, makes an astonishing offer: he will surrender the base if his twenty thousand soldiers can be safely evacuated. He claims the base will soon be defenseless anyway, its phase energy depleted.

Suddenly, Melda Dietz collapses, unconscious. Kodai in his fighter, is baffled by the silent, empty command center. Ram Leragenra confirms Kodai's suspicion: the "commander" is an automated unit, a holographic projection, battling the enemy fleet. The true scale of the deception, the absence of human life in this vast base, dawns on Kodai, making Ram's earlier offer even more striking.

While negotiations unfold, Supreme Commander Zordar delivers a chilling decree. He dismisses Ram Leragenra for colluding with the Garmillas, despite acknowledging the value of Ram's information. Ram, in a final desperate plea, shouts that the "Witch of Ularia" is a real enemy, not a mythical one, and those fighting to prove it deserve support. His words are cut short by a female officer's brutal shot, silencing him and highlighting the cold, unforgiving nature of Zordar's regime.

Despite the chaos, Ram Leragenra offers a reassuring smile to Kodai, accepting his daring proposal. Kodai's plan is audacious: use the Yamato's Wave Motion Cartridges to pierce the phase field, then deploy unmanned Deustra ships armed with Dessler Guns to ram Gorba, acting as a catalyst for the Yamato's own Wave Motion Gun. Ram agrees, ordering his ship to evacuate personnel. On the Yamato bridge, the crew is exhausted but resolute, accepting that this desperate maneuver might be their only chance.

Kodai activates the command unit, and the vast Garmillas mothership begins to shake, glowing red and sparking internally. From space, it becomes a fiery spectacle, engulfed in a massive explosion. The Yamato fires its Wave Motion Gun, tearing through the core, destroying the base from within. Ram Leragenra watches the annihilation, proclaiming, "A miracle has happened," his weary expression a testament to the heavy cost of their shared, grim victory.

On the Yamato's bridge, a collective sigh of relief washes over the exhausted crew. Kodai confirms the Super-Dimensional Subspace Teleportation Gate is closed, and Shima Daisuke notes the phase energy is normalizing. The Yamato flies through calm space, safe at last. In a poignant shift, Ram Leragenra and Melda Dietz are seen on a golden structure, overlooking a vibrant, peaceful planet. Ram smiles, then turns away, while Melda gazes at the stars, a quiet hope dawning on their faces.