From: mfrose@ais.org (Martin Rose)
Subject: Capsule Scenario Synopsis:  Area 88
Organization: UMCC
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 04:58:22 GMT

Here's some basic background and character information for an old series of
three OVAs.  This is almost completely from memory, and a lot of the details
have fuzzed out over time, but T-ko-sama (that's you, Theresa :) ) asked for
it, so here goes...

AREA 88 is located somewhere in the Middle East, mostly consisting of the
small nation called Aslan.  Here, Soviet-armed rebel forces fight a
constant war against the existing government.  Not being low on capital,
this government has "recruited" some of the best pilots in the world, paying
them for missions and kills, not unlike an over-blown video game; however,
repairs, fuel, and armaments must be purchased if survival is expected.
Mercenary pilots from around the globe are here, fighting not for God or
country, but for money, or the sheer thrill of the hunt, or, for some, for
love...

The scenario is explained in a flashback sequence in the first OVA, "The
Blue Skies of Betrayal".  Shin Kazama is a promising young pilot working his
way up the ladder at Yamato Air Lines, despite the fact that an overlong
forelock covers one eye at all times, most likely rendering his depth
perception useless. :)  He has caught the fancy of Ryoko, the pretty
daughter of the company president, and she has caught his.  She has also
caught the eye of Shin's rival and (Shin believes) friend, Kanzaki.

One night, as they are staying in France, Shin and Kanzaki go out to a bar.
Shin gets rather, shall we say, sauced, and Kanzaki has him sign an
innocent-looking sheet of paper before passing out.  When Shin awakes, two
MPs have come to collect him.  It seems Kanzaki had him sign documents
volunteering his services to the Foreign Legion!  Shin realizes the
treachery, but there is nothing he can do, now.

Because of his aviation skills, Shin is taken to Area 88, and he joins their
mercenary air force.  As explained to him early on by the base commander,
Saki, there are three ways to get out of Area 88:
  1)  Survive your three-year tour of duty.
  2)  Make enough money to pay off your plane.
  3)  Escape, if you can, and you will be executed if you try...

So Shin fights, determined to win his way back to Japan, and Ryoko...

This only covers the basic setting.  There are many other points which are
best left to a viewing of the OVAs, such as Ryoko's quest to first locate,
then retrieve Shin, Kanzaki's scheme to take control of Yamato Air Lines,
battle after gut-wrenching battle over the skies of Aslan, Saki's reasons
for leading this fight in the first place, among others.  Of course, there's
also the mercenary pilots themselves; guys like Mickey Simon, the Vietnam
ace, Greg Gates, the steel-nerved Warthog pilot, and McCoy, the sly old man
who can get you anything for a price.

I should also warn you that the Area 88 OVAs have a significant parting of
the ways with the original manga stories; many manga storylines surface in
the OVAs, but in nothing resembling chronological order.  I will also warn
you that the conclusion of Act 3, "Burning Mirage", still leaves much
unanswered...
-- 
  PCHammer:  Lieutenant, About-to-Die Police (Martin Rose) - mfrose@ais.org
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 "Think of it, Batman; to never again walk on a summer's day with a hot wind
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Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime,rec.arts.animation