The Next Generation: Patlabor

Shigeo Shiba, Head Mechanic as well as the oldest member of Special Vehicles Section 2 (SV2), talks about the history of SV2 from the 1st generation until now. He is also visited by a third generation pilot, Akira Izumino.

With the useless 98 Ingram Labor now too fragile to operate, the members of SV2 spend their lazy days in an endless “standby”. So when they suddenly receive an order to put the Labor in action after such a long inactivity, all members of SV2 get really excited. Can they take take on their target — the industries’ Labor “KURATAS” — and achieve a glorious victory..?

In order to dissolve the SV2, the upper echelons of the police hatch a plot: though the 98 Ingram Labor is unable to adequately stand, SV2 is commanded to participate in a full equipment check and fire a salute in the presence of Tokyo Metropolitan Police commissioner. Will the combined efforts of mechanic teams be enough to overcome this difficult situation?

Devoting herself to operating the Labor and playing games, Akira Izumino, the Forward of Team 1, has an amazing kinetic vision and incredible reflexes. While she is off-duty, she meets a mysterious old man who advocates “the thought for the win” at a game arcade. Defeated and shocked by her opponent, Akira starts a senseless training program that goes back and forth between reality and fiction. She finally obtains ultimate strength and sharpness with help from Yuma, the Backup of Team 1. The time comes to confront that strong old man…. What is “the thought for the win”?

SV2’s lifeline: a convenience store. But that daily scenery is about to become the scene of a big case… Roped into doing the shopping, Akira had an unfortunate encounter with terrorists armed with a large amount of explosives and heavy machine guns. In their attempt to rescue the captive Akira, Yuma and Yamazaki also end up becoming hostages. Amid a strange exchange with the terrorists staging the siege, Captain Gotoda embarks on a secret plan with Kasya and the Ingram…

In Atami, the mysterious disappearance of surfers and the sudden appearance of a gigantic sea lifeform causes a commotion. An investigation is launched by oceanographer Nobuko Nanami and the SV2 team, who — by coincidence — happened to be there on vacation. The Mayor gloats as more tourists come to Atami in the hopes of seeing a confrontation between a Labor and the monster. Further complicating matters are a prophet who claims to be a “Venusian” and a one-eyed scientist. As the odd cast of characters gather together, will a giant monster really appear!?

The giant monster reveals itself at last, and proceeds to burn the town of Atami! But, in truth, this is all part of the Mayor’s scheme of economic revival… As the authorities’ evil scheme threatens Oceanographer Nanami, SV2 sits on the sidelines in uncertainty. There is also a rather dubious movie director, who may or may not know the source of the escalating monster crisis. As the Self-Defense Forces are dispatched, the Ingram’s Revolver Cannon fires, and the truth of the giant monster will become clear!

“A time bomb is planted inside Special Vehicles Section 2!” The members of SV2 are perplexed by that sudden, mocking telephone call, while an aviary explodes in Yamazaki. However, that warning was just the beginning… After a huge explosion is triggered in the Section 2 offices, a search for more bombs is launched. Policemen dig through many contraband items, and after finding one bomb, another big explosion erupts. Reluctantly, an evacuation order is issued for SV2. But a jumbo-sized bomb still sits in the building… how many more triggers for it are there, and where are they!?