After viewing the first episodes of Sentou Yosei Yukikaze, or Fairy Fighter Yukikaze, my appetite was more than whetted for more of the fast paced yet intellectual anime. The second volume, episodes three and four, delivers on the promise of the first: more intrigue, more questions, and definitely more of the amazing dog fighting which has become a staple of the series since its first episodes.

Volume two, Fog of War, picks up right after the events of the first volume: the reborn Yukikaze has been cleared for combat and boomerang squadron is glad for it. This second episode introduces the JAM radar, a previously massive installation that is now housed on the Yukikaze itself. The radar, a tool to allow Yukikaze to detect incoming JAM as they approach, enters its warning pattern as Jack explains to Rei its purpose, saying that its still got a few bugs in it. There’s little time to sort out the bugs in the system as Banshee-4, a massive flying carrier, is overtaken and goes berserk, downing several FAF fighters in the process. Rei and Yukikaze’s OS programmer, Tomahawk, are dispatched to figure out what happened to Banshee-4. The truth they find there, the mystery behind the JAM replica of a FAF airbase, and the reason why Yukikaze’s JAM radar activated are all explained in the explosive conclusion to episode two.

Episode three finds Rei and Jack reporting to earth through the passageway to retrieve Yukikaze’s new engines. Unfortunately for them, the JAM decides to follow Yukikaze through and test out their new kamikaze fighters against the relatively unprotected and outgunned naval forces. After successfully routing the JAM force single-handedly, Yukikaze, Rei, and Jack are given cold receptions by the earth forces and naval officers, clearly defining the prejudice of the more advanced FAF by the earth forces that were alluded to in the first volume. This, coupled with the investigation of the JAM duplicates casts a pall over the FAF and Yukikaze, veiling them in suspicion that culminates with Rei and Yukikaze being forced into combat against their deadliest opponents yet: themselves!

Episodes two and three delve further into the investigation and the inhuman nature of the JAM and their cloning, while still leaving their ultimate purpose intentionally vague. Unlike the first volume, the characters of Rei and Yukikaze are given more development: not through background but through their actions. Rei seems kinder, more tolerant of Tomahawk, who is some what of an outcast himself; Yukikaze has "evolved" into something more protective of its pilot as seen in the flashing of the warning pattern, and the tightening of the seat straps to restrain Rei in the conclusion of the second episode. Overall, Rei seems to have grown the most, engaging in small talk with Jack, putting Tomahawk at ease, and even showing some remorse over his final actions onboard Banshee-4. This is an improvement, especially when compared to the bland, emotionless Rei seen in the first volume, and the R2D2-like Yukikaze.

The animation of Yukikaze remains top-notch: Banshee-4 is rendered in impressive detail, its interiors vastly different from those of the ships seen in episode four. Gonzo Digimation has gone through great lengths to emphasize the difference between the FAF fighter craft and the JASDF fighter craft seen on earth: the latter appear to be more advanced and streamlined than the former and, again, the detail on each craft is phenomenal; when the DVD is paused, you can clearly pick out individual squadron colors in the FAF base, in the JASDF squadron, and on Banshee-4. All of the aircraft and vehicles are rendered in beautiful cell shaded CGI which makes for some impressive visual effects: you can see the instability as Rei and Yukikaze get used to the new engines when they first light off, the adjustment of the FAF and JAM fighters as they move in combat. The attention to detail is simply amazing. The character designs themselves change little from the first DVD, though each character group maintains a certain difference in design: the JASDF officers seem sharper, more austere; the civilians softer, and the FAF soldiers somewhere between the two.

Again, the problem of the English dub rears its head: Jack, Rei’s CO, still sounds like a twenty-something, when it's clearly made known that Jack is older than Rei. Additionally, the English tracks seem to be a little flat, devoid of emotion and inflection when compared to their Japanese counterparts: Tomahawk's kindness is covered with a sort of nervous demeanor in the English that, while present in the Japanese, was not as overbearing. This problem does not seem to extend to the sound effects: some mecha anime dubs have a habit of replacing "unnecessary" background noise; this is not the case with Yukikaze. Each environment has its own aural feel to it: from the relative silence of Banshee-4, to the constant hum and click of FAF headquarters, to the hum of the engines and the hiss of the sea aboard the JSADF ships. Every sound is rendered in crisp Dolby stereo, and the music itself keeps pace with the action on screen, creating as much of a mood as the animation itself.

Unlike the first DVD release, the second has little in the way of extra features, though it does come with a DTS version of episodes three and four for all those with hardcore surround sound. The DTS version seems engineered to make a room shake when played on full settings; it's best to make sure windows and glasses are reinforced and secure. Don't let the lack of special features stop you, though. Yukikaze's blend of intrigue and high-flying dog fighting is sure to appeal to those who want a slice of intrigue with their action.