Girly Air Force

Kei Narutani is fleeing Shanghai on an evacuation ship when he's attacked by the Xi, but a mysterious red fighter jet saves him.

Kei meets Gripen, the fighter jet who saved him; the plane itself is called a Daughter, and it's piloted by an artificial life form called an Anima.

Gripen's condition stabilizes when she's near Kei, but nobody knows why; the two of them train for the upcoming test flight using the simulator.

The test flight is delayed; Kei hears that Gripen is to be scrapped so he sneaks into the base.

Gripen continues to lose to Eagle in mock battles, and it starts to get to her.

Phantom defeats Eagle and Gripen by cheating, saying that she'll do whatever it takes to win.

Eagle is angry at Phantom's selfishness; Kei decides to have another mock battle, loser having to do whatever the winner says.

Phantom is defeated; Kei happily returns to Komatsu; however, he and Minghua get into a fight.

Kei spends a rare day off with Minghua, but he's suddenly pulled away to meet the American Anima project chief and American Anima, Rhino.

World governments prepare for their most ambitious project yet: a battle to retake Shanghai.

The battle to retake Shanghai begins; Brawler UAVs are taken over by the Xi.

Kei and Gripen are trapped in a Chinese airport alone, except for Rhino.