Uchuu Senkan Yamato III EP3 - Yamato Embarks at Dawn

During the ongoing war outside of Earth's solar system, one of the ships mistakenly warps to Earth's atmosphere, heading directly for the Yamato's location. The Earth Defense Force alerts Commander Kodai, who sends the Cosmo Tigers to investigate. The ship attacks the Tigers, but they dispatch it.

Kodai briefs his crew on the mission, offering those who wish to remain on Earth a chance to leave. Chief Communications Officer Yoshikazu Aihara is the only one who does so, wanting to find a girl who had given him a flower, but whose name he did not get. Susumu discovers that the girl in question is Akiko, the EDF's commander's granddaughter, and sends out the Cosmo Tigers to bring Yoshikazu back. Just then, he finds Yoshikazu still on board and brings him back to meet Akiko, who wishes him luck.

As the Yamato launches into space, 329 days remain before the sun destroys Earth.