86: Eighty Six

Lena Mirizé commands elite 86 pilots led by Shin Nouzen, known as the Undertaker, in San Magnolia's drone war.

The Republic of San Magnolia claims its war against the Empire of Giad is ethical because unmanned drones are used. In reality, human pilots known as 86s from the unofficial 86th District secretly control these Juggernauts. Major Vladilena "Lena" Mirizé is a Handler who treats these pilots with humanity. She is assigned to the prestigious Spearhead squadron, led by Shinei "Shin" Nouzen, called the Undertaker. Shin has a history of driving Handlers to quit, retire, or commit suicide. The Spearhead pilots enjoy tormenting their commanders. During a battle, a pilot is mortally wounded, and Shin mercy kills him. That night, Lena contacts the unit to introduce herself to the squad.

Lena commands Spearhead after witnessing Shin's combat prowess and challenging historical narratives.

One week after Lena assumes command of Spearhead, an Empire Legion attacks, prompting a counteroffensive where Lena observes Shin single-handedly destroying powerful units. She then interrupts a Handler recruit history class to correct the teacher's claim that the war will end in two years due to Legion lifespans. Lena reveals that the Republic stripped citizenship and human rights from non-Alba citizens, forcing them to pilot Juggernauts as expendable 86s. She insists these individuals are human and deserve respect, angering government monitors but relying on her uncle's protection. Later, Lena tells her friend Annette she holds a positive impression of Shin despite his reputation. That night, Lena continues her daily conversations with Spearhead, helping the unit warm up to her, with Shin briefly smiling for the first time.

Lena's Idealism Tested by Kaie's Death and Theoto's Accusations

Lena maintains dialogue with Spearhead despite mixed reception. Kureha harbors resentment due to jealousy over Lena’s closeness to Shin and anger toward Alba regarding her parents' execution. Kaie becomes fascinated by Lena after realizing not all 86 are good nor all Alba bad. Lena secures battlefield maps for Spearhead, revealing to Kaie that an 86 pilot saved her life, proving their humanity. Kaie warns against attachment and suggests transfer. Lena uses new maps for superior positioning in the next battle. Success turns to tragedy when Kaie’s Juggernaut is destroyed in a marsh. Lena blames herself, prompting pilot Theoto to rant against her perceived hypocrisy and ignorance of their true feelings. He notes she uses only callsigns, not real names. Overwhelmed by these accusations and the loss, Lena suffers an emotional breakdown.

The character's true identity is revealed

Lena learns Shin's secret about hearing dead voices and resolves to defeat Legion Shepherds within a year.

Lena discovers Shourei saved her life during a Legion ambush that killed her father, and learns the Nouzen family immigrated from the Empire to District 1 before the war. Shin warns Lena of an impending Legion offensive and advises cutting their Para-RAID link due to Black Sheep presence, but she refuses. During the battle, Lena hears distressing voices, including Kaie's last words, causing shock. Shin explains he hears voices of the dead from Legions after a near-death experience, allowing him to predict their movements. He reveals Legions copy human brains, imprinting victims' thoughts to create superior Black Sheep and Shepherd models. The Legion is larger and more intelligent than the Republic realizes, having evolved to exceed original lifespans, making defeat inevitable. Lena resolves to destroy Legion Shepherd commanders within one year to end the war. Later, Shin reveals a neck scar from Shourei attempting to strangle him.

Shin seeks Shourei's head while Lena petitions for Spearhead support against a likely trap.

Flashbacks reveal Shin locating Shourei's headless corpse four years ago, after Shourei blamed him for their parents' deaths. In the present, the Legion adapts its tactics, resulting in the deaths of Daiya and Lecca. Shin is compelled to mercy kill Daiya to stop the Legion from harvesting his brain. Shin remains determined to find Shourei's missing head. Meanwhile, Lena celebrates her birthday with Annette, who explains that individuals with abnormal Para-RAID reactions face dissection or transfer. Lena asks her uncle for military reinforcements for Spearhead, but he refuses. Instead, he orders an attack on a Legion construction base. Shin accepts the mission, suspecting it is a trap. During this time, Lena reflects on her memories of Shourei and realizes she has developed feelings for Shin.

Lena Advocates for Spearhead While They Face Ambush and Suicide Unit Truths

Lena secures a fireworks crate and pushes for reinforcements, gaining her uncle's agreement. Anju and Kurena discuss Daiya's death and debate revealing Spearhead's secret to Lena, which Shin and Raiden have withheld. During the Revolution Festival, Lena attends a party while Spearhead uses the fireworks. They launch an attack on the Legion base but suffer heavy casualties from ultra-long-range artillery, forcing a retreat with only a few survivors. Shin reveals to Lena that Spearhead is a suicide unit designed to eliminate 86s nearing the end of their term to prevent their return to the Republic. Raiden explains they fight to maintain pride rather than accept death passively. In another sector, a new Legion unit destroys a Juggernaut squadron.

Shin prepares to confront Shourei while Lena uncovers Spearhead's tragic history and the dark truth behind para-RAID technology.

Shin reveals to Raiden that he heard Shourei's voice among the Legion and wishes to confront him one final time. Lena investigates Spearhead's past, finding that previous unit iterations were sent on special reconnaissance missions to ensure their destruction. She seeks Annette's help, but Annette becomes furious, recalling how her neighbors, who were friends and 86s, were taken by the government. Annette discloses that para-RAID technology resulted from human experimentation on 86s, causing her father to commit suicide from guilt. After a falling out, Lena protests to her uncle, who argues that exterminating the 86s is necessary to prevent the Republic from becoming a pariah state. Lena bids Shin farewell, who explains that destroying Shourei, now a Shepherd, will create enough Legion confusion for her to escape. On the mission day, the remaining Spearhead members—Shin, Raiden, Theoto, Kurena, and Anju—clean their base and depart. Shourei moves to intercept them, eager to assimilate Shin into the Legion under the warped belief that he is protecting him.

Shin battles Shourei while Lena secures artillery support to aid Spearhead's advance.

During the engagement with Legion forces, Shin confronts Shourei directly, but his Juggernaut is disabled by Shourei’s superior Shepherd unit. Lena reveals to Annette that Shin and Shourei were her former neighbors, prompting Annette to hack the Republic’s artillery system. This support destroys the Legion troops and disables Shourei, allowing Shin to recover and defeat him. Shourei apologizes before his machine explodes. With the area cleared, Spearhead decides to cross the Republic’s borders to seek freedom. Lena realizes they are leaving without her and watches as they move out of Para-RAID range, disappearing from her sight.

Spearhead rests in abandoned town while Shin confronts a damaged Black Sheep

Liberated from the Republic, Spearhead ventures into former Empire lands, evading Legion patrols until blocked by a river impassable for their Juggernauts. The group halts to rest and explore a deserted Imperial settlement, where Shin appears noticeably more at ease after freeing Shourei and confiding in Lena. The following day, Shin locates a damaged Black Sheep, destroys its core to end its suffering, and announces his goal to find an unconquered nation for peaceful living. Two weeks later, Spearhead’s robot companion Fido recalls memories of being found by Shin and living with the team before perishing in an explosion.

Spearhead abandons their Juggernauts and Shin attempts a decoy mission against the Legion.

Following a battle with the Legion, Spearhead is forced to leave behind disabled Juggernauts and a crippled Fido due to destroyed supplies. They rest in an abandoned Imperial town school, where they briefly roleplay as students. The next day, Shin takes the last Juggernaut to intercept the Legion, intending to sacrifice himself as a decoy so the others can escape. His friends follow him, and all appear to die while Shin hears the voice of another Shepherd. Meanwhile, Lena arrives at the Spearhead base as the replacement. She finds a farewell note from the original team and a request to adopt their pet kitten. Inspired by their words, Lena resolves to keep fighting. Elsewhere, Shin experiences a dying dream of reuniting with Shourei in the afterlife, leaving his headless body behind.