History Anime / MuvLuvAlternativeTotalEclipse

[[redirect:LightNovel/MuvLuvAlternativeTotalEclipse]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_1muv_luv_alternative.jpg]]

In 1973, an invasion of aliens known as BETA upon Earth is driving human civilization into near collapse. Facing an enormous, [[ZergRush unstoppable horde of enemy forces]] with [[EnergyWeapon weapons making aircraft almost useless]], mankind developed large humanoid fighting machines called [[RealRobot Tactical Surface Fighters]] and deployed them to defensive lines throughout the world. However, all these efforts could do was stall the BETA temporarily, and mankind is forced to abandon continental Eurasia. For the next 30 years, mankind finds itself bogged down in an endless war against the BETA without any hope of victory.

In 1998, BETA make landfall on the Empire of Japan's Kyushu Prefecture, and in short order the Imperial Capital of Kyoto is lost despite a desperate defense.

Fast-forward to 2001. As Imperial Japan defends the front lines of the Far East, it faces difficulties in the development of a next-generation [=TSF=]. A solution appears in the [=XFJ=] program, a joint development between the US and Japan, under the aegis of Project PROMINENCE, a UN-sponsored program intended to spur next-generation TSF development, using test pilots, scientists and engineers from around the world, gathering at Alaska's Yukon Base.

Enter [[AcePilot 2nd Lieutenant Yuuya Bridges]] of the US Army, for whom assignment to the Project [[ReassignedToAntarctica felt too much like a demotion]], [[LadyOfWar 1st Lieutenant Yui Takamura]] of the Imperial Royal Guards, head of the Japanese side of the XFJ program and SoleSurvivor of her unit from the Battle of Kyoto, and the "[[RedBaron Scarlet Sisters]]", 2nd Lieutenants Cryska Barchenowa and Inia Sestina of the Soviet Army. Coming together from different backgrounds, their respective pasts and meeting at Yukon, along with the other participants in Project PROMINENCE, will have important consequences for the Project, and indeed Yukon itself.

Set in the universe of ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative'', ''Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse'' is the anime adaptation of the light novel publication of a sidestory first serialized in Tech Gian. It began airing on July 2nd, 2012.

The series is being simulcast by [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/total-eclipse Crunchyroll.]]

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!!This work contains examples of:

* TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects: The [=BETA=], made more obvious if there's a human character in the same scene, such as when Yui was approached by some at the end of episode 2.
* AcePilot:
** Practically all test pilots at Yukon are this, particularly those who hail from countries that have fallen to the [=BETA=].
** Yuuya's previous assignment was as a test pilot for the [[SuperPrototype F-22 Raptor]] at Groom Lake, Nevada, aka Area 51.
* AceCustom: The story focuses on a multinational team of pilots testing out custom TSF models.
** The standard Su-37 is usually only assigned to aces and battalion commanders, like Fikasia Latrova and Natasha Ivanova.
** The Shiranui has two ace customs: there's the Shiranui Type-1C, which was used by Yui's instructor, and the 94 Second testbed, which Yuuya pilots (which is an AceCustom of the -1C)..
* ActionPrologue: The first two episodes, which focuses on Yui while she was still a teen in Japan before it falls to the [=BETA=]. The main story then takes place three years later in Alaska.
* AdaptationDistillation: The anime has so far adapted the Light Novels by sticking to the high points, and in the case of the Soviet arc, expanding missing scenes.
* AdaptationExpansion: Compared to the Light Novels, the Blue Flag and final arcs have been expanded, with greater roles for certain characters and mecha.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Both Cryska and Inia get a lot of screen time in episode 17, whereas in earlier episodes they were largely relegated to side characters.
* AirplaneArms: Inia.
* AlienInvasion: Type 1. The [=BETA=] were actually discovered on the Moon, but despite humanity attempting to fight them up there, they eventually made their way to Earth, and have been pushing humans back almost everywhere since.
* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: In episode 2, the BETA are seen overrunning various outposts in Kyoto, such as the supply base, as well as the command center.
** They do it again in the Kamchatka arc.
** Episode 21 provides a shocker when [[spoiler: humans from a terrorist group attempt to takeover the UN test facility where the main story takes place.]]
* AlternateHistory: Carrying over from ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative'', but to recap (and since it's covered in the first couple episodes of the anime):
** The UsefulNotes/MeijiRestoration ended differently, as the shoguns still exist alongside the Emperor and there are still titled nobility.
** Relations between the United States and Japan are still bitter following UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, rather than the two countries having enjoyed a close alliance. (The Pacific War ended in 1944 with a negotiated peace and the atomic bombings took place in Germany instead of Japan.)
** Humanity had {{mecha}} and a large presence on the Moon at first contact with BETA in 1967.
** BETA interrupted the UsefulNotes/ColdWar and the United States and Soviet Union are engaged in TeethClenchedTeamwork against the aliens in the series' 2001 present day, with Alaska hosting the Soviet GovernmentInExile and a large (mostly ethnic Russian) refugee population while the remains of the Red Army hold Kamchatka.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The only goal of the [=BETA=] seems to be to "eat as many humans as possible." [[spoiler: It's actually "eat everything" for resources, but since humans are mostly made of carbon compounds as well eating us is perfectly justifiable for resource-gathering.]]
* AnyoneCanDie: As befitting a Franchise/MuvLuv story:
** Yui's class is completely wiped out during the defense of Kyoto after getting a full episode all to themselves.
** [[spoiler: Fikasia Latrova and Zhar Battalion are destroyed due to combat losses from beta, friendly fire from bombers, and the Scarlet Twins. Although the VisualNovel continuation reveals that the Zhar battalion survived the arc]].
** [[spoiler: Leaked images from the Total Eclipse visual novel imply that Cryska dies at the end of the story. Those same images also invert the trope for someone already mentioned, as that person is seen, alive, at the site of Cryska's supposed grave-stone.]]
* ArmsAndArmorThemeNaming: Most [=TSFs=] are named after real-life fighter jets, e.g. the American F-15E Strike Eagle, the Soviet Su-37, the Chinese J-11, etc. The Japanese [=TSFs=] have no real-life equivalent due to the AlternateHistory, however: the real-life JASDF uses mostly American-built jets or Japanese derivatives of same, whereas the ''Alternative''-verse's independent Japanese Empire uses indigenous designs (although their first TSF was a derivative of the American F-4 Phantom).
* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Inverted example. A scene from the anime version of the story shows a map depicting lost territory to BETA with our modern 21st century borders. InUniverse, the UsefulNotes/ColdWar did not end and the boundaries of the USSR, East Germany, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia are non existent. This is despite Cryska and Inia, two of the most important characters explicitly being from the Soviet Union.
* ArtisticLicenseMilitary:
** Questionable since it's a {{callsign}}, but everyone refers to Yuuya as Film/TopGun as befitting his status as an AcePilot. The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_Strike_Fighter_Tactics_Instructor_program Top Gun]] program, however, is US ''Navy'' outfit where [[InsistentTerminology Aviators]] practice dog fighting tactics against master pilots in Nevada and Southern California. Sounds fitting doesn't it? Unfortunately Yuuya is apart of the Army.
** The subtitles for the anime give the TSF pilots naval ranks, with Yuuya and his squadron members being said to be ensigns. Leaving aside that this seemingly underranks everyone except Yuuya (who is a rookie, though a talented one, at the start of the series) and possibly Yui[[note]]First Lieutenant (''Rikugun-Chūi'' 陸軍中尉) Takamura is probably not underranked for her age and time in grade, but probably ''is'' underranked for her responsibilities. Additionally, a war as bloody as the fight with the BETA has been would probably result in more rapid promotions for combat veterans like herself [[YouAreInCommandNow due to superior officers getting killed]].[[/note]], he's (again) said to be in the Army and thus should be a second lieutenant. Ditto the Red Army characters: the twins are ranked ensign instead of junior lieutenant, and Zhar Battalion CO Fikatsia Latrova should be a lieutenant colonel (''podpolkovnik'' in Russian) rather than commander (which wasn't even a rank used in the Soviet ''Navy'': the equivalent in the USSR and ex-Soviet countries is captain 2nd rank).
** Various {{fanservice}} incidents would in real life be grounds for a very swift CourtMartial for sexual harassment (trying to peep on your superior officer bathing in a hot spring comes to mind, as does that officer's own superiors making her take part in a swimsuit photoshoot).
* AssholeVictim: Zhar Battalion pilot Yakov gets eaten by Tank-classes. Given that he'd earlier intended to rape Inia, nobody except his friends gives a shit.
* AttackItsWeakPoint: One of the main BETA strains, the Destroyer-class, is effectively a bulldozer work-alike and capable of smashing through concrete buildings with ease; it shrugs off TSF and tank cannon fire due to the thick carapace on its forequarters. The same cannons are quite effective when aimed at their unarmored rear.
* BatmanGambit: Yuuya's plan for the team mock battle in Episode 3. [[spoiler:He takes a Strike Eagle and has Tarisa take the ACTV Eagle to lull her into a false sense of security, then maneuvers her into a position where Stella can snipe her, knowing that he can't beat her in close combat and the ACTV will allow her to evade his fire.]]
%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample * BattleHarem
* BeachEpisode: Episode 6, with lots of FanService.
* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame:
** Yuuya first attempts this against Tarisa in Episode 3, engaging her in melee albeit not entirely by choice. [[spoiler: And then it turns out to be a subversion, as he's just getting her where Stella has a clear shot. See BatmanGambit above.]]
** Tarisa's suggestion for dealing with Bao-Feng Flight in the Blue Flag exercises. As Bao-Feng are melee-oriented, conventional wisdom suggests keeping the range open and [[MoreDakka laying down fire]], but since Yifei is good enough to force a melee duel, Tarisa suggests Yuuya engage her in melee to seize the initiative, while the rest of Argos ties up Yifei's subordinates. [[spoiler:It turns out the Shiranui's Japanese-designed sword is equipped with is balanced better for this kind of fight than Yifei's, giving Yuuya the edge he needs.]]
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: Or rather [[spoiler: Better to Be Shot Than ''EatenAlive''.]]
* {{BFG}}: The railgun Yuuya tests in episode 8, which wipes out virtually all of the remaining [=BETA=]
* BigDamnHeroes:
** Yui is falling into a HeroicBSOD [[spoiler: after her friends are eaten and she fails to MercyKill Kazusa]], and is surrounded by numerous [=BETA=]. Then a prototype Takemikazuchi in command colors busts in and wipes the floor with the [=BETA=].
** Subverted with Yuuya in episode 8 when he stops a Soviet pilot from attempting to rape Inia. While he does prevent it, all of the pilot's friends grab pipes and knives and seem prepared to kill him as they surround him, Inia, and Cryska. Played straight when their commander shows up, although she doesn't seem to really be doing it to save them.
** Then he plays it straight in episode 9 when he uses Yui's railgun to wipe out the remaining [=BETA=]. And again in episode 12 to rescue Yui when she's surrounded by [=BETA=].
** Latrova and Zhar bail Yuuya out after all his weapons are gone and his Shiranui is critically damaged.
** Inia does this for Yuuya in episode 23, followed shortly by the rest of the surviving UN forces they were with, after returning due to finding Inia's [=TSF=] on radar.
** The Infinities show up to save Yui from getting killed in episode 24. They also help mop up remaining RLF TSF's who were attempting to stop Yui's attempts to slow down the [=BETA=] attacks.
* BolivianArmyEnding:
** The Kamchatka arc gives one to [[spoiler:the Zhar Battalion, who are last seen charging off into the mountains to take out a battery of Laser-classes, while Colonel Latrova winds up in a DuelToTheDeath with the Communist Party officer who tried to kill them all to steal the Type-99. [[SparedByTheAdaptation In the visual novel they turn up alive later.]]]]
** [[spoiler:In the tradition of ''Tactical Surface Fighter in Action'', TE ends with Yuuya charging towards the BETA hybrid firing at the Susano'o Type 4, followed by a short epilogue giving a macrohistorical view of the outcome of Operation Cherry Blossom, without reference to any particular character.]]
* BoomHeadshot:
** Several [=BETA=] are on the receiving end of this throughout the series.
** [[spoiler: Then Natalie, the bar girl, gets one at the end of episode 21 for talking too much about her group's plans.]]
** [[spoiler: Mariem, one of the RLF leaders inside Alaska base, suffers from this when she attempts to surrender.]]
* BrainWashed: Inia and Cryska at the end of episode 24, and the first half of 25.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: At the end of episode 19, the narrator announces the next episode will be a RecapEpisode meant to get everyone up to speed on what's been going on since the show started, and to get ready for the climax episodes.
* BreatherEpisode: Meta example for the BeachEpisode arc; it was written as a relatively light story to give the writer time to further plan and expand Total Eclipse.
** Episode 17 has a quick battle and a brief fist fight, but otherwise largely focuses on characters developing relationships with other each other rather than focusing on the mechs and/or the [=BETA=].
** Episode 19 has every major character as well as several minor ones taking part in a relaxation exercise meant to build up camaraderie among everyone. So this episode is focused mainly on FanService.
* BridgeBunnies: Three of them appear, monitoring Argos Flight's combat performance.
* BrotherSisterIncest: [[spoiler: Yui finding out Yuuya is her half-brother doesn't stop her feelings towards him.]]
* BugWar: Which surprisingly enough, despite what the first two episodes may lead you to believe, plays a secondary role in this series.
* CatGirl: Tarisa is dressed up as a maid version in episode 5.
* CensorSteam:
** Used in episode 5 on Yuuya and Yui.
** Episode 19 utilizes it heavily while they're at the hot springs, particularly as some of the female cast either weren't told to bring a swimsuit, or chose not to wear one.
* ChekhovsGun: The development plans for the Type-99 EM Radiation Cannon appear in Episode One; Yui's uncle secures R&D approval from Yuuhi. The railgun later appears in Episode 9, in Yuuya's hands. [[spoiler: It's also intended to be installed on the XG-70]].
** Yui's watch, which she inherited from her father. [[spoiler: In the Visual Novel, she's shot, but the bullet is stopped by her watch, which is made of the same metal as the Type-74 PB Blade.]]
* ChainsawGood: The Soviet Union's current frontline [=TSFs=] carry chainsaws in their arms and legs.
* ChekhovsLecture: Yui mentions to Yuuya in episode 5 that there's a Japanese saying that "a man and his horse are one" [[note]]"Jinba ittai"[[/note]]. Yuuya doesn't understand it initially, but at the end of the episode it makes perfect sense to him once he stops trying to utilize so much brute force handling with his mech, and instead tries to utilize its strengths in finesse movements.
* ChildSoldiers: As per Franchise/MuvLuv in general. Inia is ''very'' young (and Cryska is implied to be as well in a FlashBack), Yui fought in the Battle of Kyoto at the age of ''fourteen'' and is 17 when Total Eclipse takes place, and Latrova aside, Zhar Battallion's pilots are all teenagers.
* ClingyJealousGirl: When Yui sees Yuuya and Cryska [[NotWhatItLooksLike seemingly embracing each other]] in episode 7, it puts her in a very foul mood when they're back in the cave in the next scene, and she puts up a {{Tsundere}} front to him. It crops up again in episode 17, although she's not as upset at him that time. And in episode 19, she invokes this trope after Lt. Cui makes him some [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapo_doufu mapo tofu.]]
** Tarisa has shades of this towards Yuuya as well, such as when Lt. Cui shows up in episodes 15 and 16.
** Lt. Cui ends up punching him twice after seeing Yuuya hanging out with the Scarlet Twins in episode 17 and claims he's "cheating" on her. She does this again in episode 19 after he invites Inia and Cryska to share in their supplies.
** Cryska falls into this trope in episode 19, after seeing Inia do TheGlomp on him while naked in the hot springs. She tries to pull him away from her, but then tosses him aside after realizing his arms were touching her breasts.
* ColonelBadass: So far there's been two: Lt. Colonel Iwaya, Yui's uncle, who was the chief test pilot for the Zuikaku, and Lt. Colonel Fikasia Latrova, commanding officer of the Zhar Battalion.
* CooldownHug: Yuuya does one for the Scarlett Twins in episode 25, while they're in [=TSFs=].
* ContinuityNod: Several towards ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative'':
** During Yui's prologue, Iwaya meets with Koubuin Yuuhi, seeking her approval for development of the Type-99 Railgun.
** Sandek speculates that [[spoiler: Inia and Cryska's rampage is due to MK-ULTRA, a CIA brainwashing/hypnosis method. While Inia and Cryska go mad because of Soviet gear, the CIA does use combat hypnosis to brainwash an American pilot in Alternative.]]
** At the end of the VN, [[spoiler:Yuuya and Inia charges towards the purpose-bred ''Gravis''-''Magnus Lux'' BETA hybrid which had destroyed most of A-01 and the Susano'o's orbital diver escort, and was close to destroying the Susano'o itself. The latter also shows up as a streak of light high above Hive 26 at Evensk, on its way down to Hive 01 at Kashgar during Operation Cherry Blossom.]]
* CovertPervert: The commander who speaks about the relaxation exercise in episode 19. He does it under the guise of building camaraderie among the various nations due to the intense rivalry each nation's team during the Blue Flag exercise, which is true enough. However, at the end of the episode, Lt. Ibrahim reluctantly shows him footage they secretly shot which shows all the girls when they were bathing in the hot springs, but mentions never wanting to do anything like this again despite supposedly building morale. The scene ends with the commander gawking at the footage.
** Niram, one of Argos Flight's BridgeBunnies, ''used'' to be this, before she outed herself.
* CrazyPrepared: In episode 21, [[spoiler: the RLF, who has been planning their attack on the UN base for some time, and implanted not only supplies they'd need for the attack earlier in the series, but sleeper agents as well, to secure facilities when the attack finally takes place. The UN and Soviet forces there are caught completely by surprise.]]
* CripplingOverspecialization:
** This is in part why Imperial Japan needed the [=XFJ=] program, as the Shiranui is too specialized to be upgraded and any improvements required a completely new TSF to be developed.
** The [=BETA=] also subscribe to this policy, and make up for any weaknesses with TacticalRockPaperScissors and large numbers.
* CurbStompBattle: A few examples:
** Pretty much the [=BETA=] against the humans during major battles/invasions.
** Yui easily disables VG, Tarisa, and Stella in episode 5.
** Yuuya vaporises the BETA in Episode 9 with the railgun.
** The Scarlet Twins are deadly on the battlefield, whether fighting [=BETA=] or other humans.
** Lt. Cui's team from China is beaten in less than four minutes in episode 17 against the Infinities team from the US.
* {{Cult}}: [[spoiler: Turns out that some of the RLF terrorists are actually part of a group called "Allegiance", which views the [=BETA=] as a servants of God, and therefore hinder any attempts by others to kill them. However, they don't make an appearance till episode 24 even though some of them are amongst the RLF attack.]]
* DatePeepers: While they weren't technically on a date, its revealed that Yui was following Yuuya around for at least a little bit once she spots him with the Scarlet Twins in town. She then gets a bit upset when Lt. Cui also shows up and confronts him about it.
* DeathFromAbove: In episode 11, one of the Soviet commanders says that their fleet of bombers is ready to fly within 5 minutes. However, he's told not to deploy them just yet. See ThePlan for more details. When they deploy, they're quite effective.
** American B-1A Lancer strategic bombers are also shown to be effective against the BETA, once the Laser-class are suppressed.
** Most pilots would dearly love to do this, but the predominance of Laser-classes means that a TSF attempting this is suicidal.
* DeathRay: The prototype railgun that Yuuya uses in episode 9. Everyone is quite shocked at how powerful it is, but at the same time relieved as the [=BETA=] in that battlefield all get wiped out.
* DecoyProtagonist: Episodes 1 and 2 (anime) follow Yui Takamura, before episode 3 switches to Yuuya Bridges' viewpoint.
* DefeatEqualsFriendship: Yui initially doesn't get along with Kazusa Yamashiro, as the latter views her as a rival. They become friends after Yui defeats her in a mock batlle.
* DespairEventHorizon: In episode 2, after Yui witnesses her last friend getting killed by the BETA, she just falls to her knees and sort of gives up, right before receiving a GunShipRescue from an unknown mecha.
* DisneyDeath: Yuuya is feared to have died after the Russian base is taken over by the [=BETA=], but he shows up in his badly beaten up [=TSF=].
** In episode 25, the Scarlett Twins holds the top half of Tarisa's [=TSF=], and Yuuya fears the worst. Then it turns out she's okay, although her [=TSF=] had to be scrapped due to the damage it sustained.
* DodgeByBraking: Used multiple times to force an overshoot. The success rate varies.
* DoomedHomeTown: The Japanese put up a strong fight when the [=BETA=] invaded Japan. [[spoiler: Unfortunately for the defenders, they were overwhelmed in just one month.]] Any characters introduced later that don't hail from Japan or the US have also most likely lost their countries to the BETA as well.
* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Lt. Cui hits Yuuya twice in episode 17 after seeing him with the Scarlet Twins and claiming he's "cheating" on her. She also punches him in episode 19 after he invites Inia and Cryska to share some food Yui was preparing.
* DwindlingParty: Yui's classmates in episode 2 all get killed one by one during their fight with the [=BETA=]. She also nearly suffers the same fate, were it not for a BigDamnHeroes rescue.
* EatenAlive: Generally speaking, anyone unlucky enough to get caught by a [=BETA=] will suffer this as well.
** Implied to have happened to Yui's last friend near the end of episode 2. Despite a plea for a MercyKill, Yui's shots miss, and her friend is then picked up by the =[BETA=]s and torn apart.
** In episode 8, a tank crew can be heard screaming for help over a radio as the scene cuts away from a [=BETA=] cracking their tank open.
** Also happens to the corporal helping Yui in episode 12. Unlike her friend back in episode 2, Yui delivers a MercyKill by shooting and killing him before he dies from this trope.
* EnergyWeapon: Laser-class and Heavy Laser-class BETA are one of the major reasons humanity is losing as their range, accuracy and power makes aircraft almost impossible to use.
* EnemyCivilWar: [[spoiler: Some of the RLF terrorists are actually part of "Allegiance", and they shoot fellow RLF members if they attempt to slow down the [=BETA=] attacks.]]
* EnemyMine: The remnants of the Soviet Union aren't exactly on friendly terms with the US in this universe, as evidenced by Cryska reacting with hostility to Yuuya being in their top secret area (after following Inia there), and later nearly being interrogated forcefully by one of their officers. They also don't normally train together like the other pilots such as VG and Tarisa do in the early episodes. However, the much bigger threat of the [=BETA=] allows them to at least focus on something other than fighting amongst themselves.
** In episode 8, Yui tells Yuuya that he can drop the experimental gun (that she helped develop) he's taking into battle if he feels its slowing him down. But she tells him to activate the self-destruct feature on it first, so as to avoid leaving it behind for other nations to find and reverse-engineer. Yuuya promises he'll bring back both his [=TSF=] and the gun back in one piece.
* EveryBulletIsATracer: The railgun's shots have this effect. It's semi-justified; while the 120mm rounds aren't tracers, they're glowing in flight due to friction with the air, caused by the extremely high speed they're traveling at.
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Despite Yui and Yuuya's insistence in episode 7 that nothing happened between them in the cave, all of his wing mates don't believe it at all. By Episode 19, Argos Flight have now graduated to ShipperOnDeck.
* EvolvingCredits: In episode 17, Lt. Cui can be seen right before the opening credits end.
* {{Expy}}:
** Yuuya is essentially a combined expy of [[Film/TopGun Maverick]] and [[Anime/MacrossPlus Isamu Dyson]].
** Yui's backstory essentially makes her an expy of [[VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative Marimo]], from the same franchise.
** The various [=TSFs=] seen are expies of real world fighters, reimagined as mecha.
* FanService: Being based on an eroge series, the anime is not at all shy about nudity. US streaming platforms even leave it uncensored, a relative rarity.
* ForeignRulingClass: As in real life, there is a fair amount of resentment towards the Soviet Union's mostly Russian ruling class from natives of the other [=SSRs=]. This is compounded in the series by ethnic Russians being evacuated to Alaska with the GovernmentInExile, while conscripts from the other republics are stuck fighting to hold the Kamchatka Peninsula against the AlienInvasion.
* ForkliftFu: After a tank [=BETA=] shows up in the warehouse where the rail gun is being stored in episode 12, it begins to chase Yui. Then the corporal who was assisting her rams it with the forklift he was driving. Although that wasn't enough to kill it, he buys her enough time to grab a high powered sniper rifle and shoot it.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: All those guys in the orange, trucks with "Coeurl" written on it that are seen about midway through the season, looking kind of suspicious in the background? [[spoiler: In episode 21, it turns out they're part of a group called the RLF, or Refugee Liberation Front. They attempt to takeover the UN testing facility.]]
* FreezeFrameBonus: Careful observation of the cockpit block, when [[spoiler: Major Christopher is being crushed]] reveals something interesting about [[http://i.imgur.com/MZR1M.jpg the installed pod]]. [[spoiler: Namely, that it contains a girl inside, one who resembles Inia.]]
* FunWithAcronyms: A few examples:
** [=BETA=] is short for ''Beings of Extra Terrestrial origin which is Adversary of human race''
** [=TSF=] stands for ''Tactical Surface Fighter''.
* {{Gorn}}: Episode 2. [[spoiler: Yui is forced to watch as her friends are eaten alive, complete with internal organ removal. And then Yamashiro's head is tossed aside by BETA and lands at her feet. {{Squick}}]]
* GlassCannon: Laser-class [=BETA=] can be killed with infantry small arms. The hard part is killing them before they snipe you out of the sky. The Heavy Laser-class [=BETA=] are more heavily-armored, and have to be killed with heavier-caliber fire or large melee weaponry.
* GodzillaThreshold:
** What's left of the Imperial Navy opens fire on [=BETA=] that have penetrated Kyoto. Though they do kill some, they also unfortunately incur a lot of civilian casualties. However, considering that they would have suffered a FateWorseThanDeath due to being EatenAlive, it probably also counts as a MercyKill.
** The US plan, Red Shift, [[spoiler: which would set off a series of hydrogen bombs in Alaska should the {=BETA=} make landfall in North America. However, this move would also kill virtually everyone that's in Alaska at the time, namely the remnants of the Soviet Union. One of the Soviet commanders in episode 24 begs Mariem to have the RLF stop fighting the US/Soviet forces to prevent it from happening, and he pleas with such passion that she wonders why he wasn't acting this way towards the refugees.]]
* GoryDiscretionShot:
** Episode 2 shows many characters getting killed. Scenes where some of the girls are being eaten by the BETA are either censored, or the scene is cutaway before anything beyond blood splattering is shown.
** Episode 21 utilizes it again, such as when a driver of a jeep Yui is in gets shot in the head, and blood is splattered over her face.
** Both of the above and many others get averted in the blu-ray release.
* [[spoiler: GrandTheftPrototype]]:
** [[spoiler:The RLF captures many [[AMechByAnyOtherName TSF]]s and deploys them against the UN Forces. Notable examples of this trope are the RLF's jacking of the [[SuperPrototype Su-47E Berkut]] (in the anime) and [=MiG=]-29OVT Fulcrums.]]
** [[spoiler: Then Inia and Cryska jack the Berkut from Christopher in the final episode of the anime.]]
* GunShipRescue: Sort of. Some of the Russian [=TSF=] pilots swoop in to save a Russian line in danger of being overrun in episode 8. They then are seen regrouping and advancing on the [=BETA=].
** Played straight in episode 25 after American B-1 bombers arrive to wipe out the [=BETA=] that were about to activate the [[GodzillaThreshold Red Shift plan.]]
* HammerAndSickleRemovedForYourProtection: Somewhat inverted and played with: Cryska in the TV series (during the BeachEpisode) wears a bikini whose top sports a symbol similar to the Hammer and Sickle on the left breast (see [[http://randomc.net/2012/08/12/muv-luv-alternative-total-eclipse-07/ here]] for screenshots). And considering she's literally from the Soviet Union...
* HeroicSacrifice: Subverted, the Soviet officers in episode 14 were discussing their options upon the unexpected arrival of the Laser class [=BETA=] destroying their bomber fleet. One of them mentions that they could cover it up by sending out a hero. [[spoiler: Said hero, most likely Cryska and Inia aka the Scarlet Twins, was then used to kill any remaining Soviet troops in the area, shortly after they wiped out the Laser class, and then were praised as heroes for their "sacrifice". It was more likely done to eliminate any witnesses from the officer's plans.]]
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Major Christopher [[spoiler: uses a hypnotic transmission device to assume direct control of the Scarlet Twins, ordering them to destroy the world. This backfires horribly when the Twins decide that he's a threat to Yuuya, and kill him.]]
* HoldTheLine: The defense of Kyoto boils down to this. [[spoiler:It doesn't work.]]
** The Soviet Union is attempting to do this as well.
*** [[spoiler: And now the Americans have gotten in on the act, by planting a series of hydrogen bombs in a line across Alaska. If too many BETA cross the line, the bombs go off, turning the overrun part of the state into an island and using the newly created strait as a defense line. Unfortunately, it also means practically all of the Soviet citizens living in Alaska would be killed off as well.]]
* HopeSpot: A number of these in quick succession during the Soviet arc:
** Episode 13: Yuuya treats Yui's wounds, grabs the Type-99's Core Module, and prepares to make his escape. [[spoiler: Tank-classes swarm his arm and eat it off, forcing him to abandon the Core Module]]. He then tries to escape, [[spoiler: and gets hit by a Fort-class]]. Then Stella bails him out, and they try to escape using the runway, [[spoiler: and his engines fail, leaving him stranded.]]
** Episode 14: Zhar Battalion rescues Yuuya just before he's devoured by BETA. [[spoiler: They then take losses from bombers, before Laser-class show up]]. Latrova sends two of her survivors to bring Yuuya to the rally point, and has Tasha lead the rest of the battalion to flank the Laser-class. [[spoiler: Latrova ends up killed by the Scarlet Twins, and Zhar is wiped out, presumably to a combination of further combat losses and being silenced by the Scarlet Twins. Although the VisualNovel version retcons this to have most of Zhar battalion make it]].
* HordeOfAlienLocusts: The [=BETA=].
* HotBlooded: Tarisa when it comes to Cryska, and especially Inia.
* HotSpringsEpisode: Episode 19, which is more or less gratuitous FanService during the second half. As expected in such an episode, the male characters with the exception of Yuuya and Leon try to get past a big muscular guy in an attempt to peek in on the women taking a bath, but all are stopped. Hilariously they don't think to "guard" the men's side, which allows Cryska and Inia to walk right into the bath. Lt. Cui later comments that she wish she had thought of doing that.
* HumansAreBastards: Humanity is being invaded by a hostile alien force, and despite that are still at odds with each other, such as the Soviet Union not entirely trusting the UN.
** [[spoiler: Then episode 21 shows that the UN is ignoring a lot of people and only interested in saving certain groups. One of the Eishi pilots mentions that more soldiers died of starvation than from [=BETA=] attacks in an African battlefield because the UN took a lot of supplies intended for those soldiers.]]
*** This is actually somewhat justified in ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative''. When the initial BETA invasion of Earth begins, China and Russia REFUSED U.N. military assistance in an attempt to monopolize any alien technology captured as a result of the BETA's arrival on Earth. The attempt ends in an apocalyptic disaster when Laser Class BETA are introduced and aerial power is immediately denied. By the time nuclear weapons are employed, its too late to deny the BETA their beachhead and the eventual BETA conquest of Earth is guaranteed [[spoiler: until the events of Muv-Luv Alternative.]]
* HumansAreDivided: Sadly, the threat of BETA has done little to unite humanity as one despite being a common threat. The USA, USSR and Empire of Japan all have their own agendas and racism within the different Soviet republics and bigotry between Americans and the Japanese plays a huge role in parts of the story.
* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Following in the footsteps of the ''Unlimited'' and ''Alternative'' [=VNs=], as well as ''[[VisualNovel/RumblingHearts Ayu-Mayu Theater]]'', each episode is named after some other work (for UL/AL/TE, military or sci-fi works).
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Yuuya attempts this with the Scarlett Twins in episode 25.
* InnocentFanserviceGirl: Inia jumps into the hot springs Yuuya is in during episode 19 completely naked. When Yuuya asks where her swimsuit is at, she tells him she didn't bring it. He then asks why she was at the men's bath, and she replies that she wanted to take a bath with him. Cryska also arrives naked as well.
* InSeriesNickname: All of the pilots in episode 3 end up giving each other nicknames, such as Yuuya being called [[Film/TopGun Top Gun]] due to being a graduate of that school and a former aggressor pilot.
** VG is jokingly called Macaroni, due to being from Italy; Tarisa gets "Chobi", due to her size; and Stella gets "Venus", after the Roman goddess of beauty. [[spoiler: Yuuya's first choice was "Giant Tits", for obvious reasons.]]
* JoinOrDie: Tarisa in episode 21 [[spoiler: is given a chance to join the RLF, Refugee Liberation Front, by Natalie, her friend that worked at the bar, who is also a member. She tells Tarisa about how the UN isn't going to save a lot of people from the [=BETA=], but Tarisa refuses, because she doesn't want to kill other humans.]]
** In episode 23, one of the RLF terrorists attempts to reason with Lt. Ibrahim to coerce him into joining them, since he performed some heroic actions in an earlier battle which saved the lives of many refugees. However, he refuses to, so they attempt to kill him, [[spoiler: but he makes an escape.]]
* IWantMyBelovedtoBeHappy: [[spoiler: Yui alows both Yuuya and Cryska To escape and wishes them both happiness despite the fact [[BrotherSisterIncest she's in Love with Yuuya still.]]]]
* JackOfAllStats: The F-15E Strike Eagle, being a well balanced machine with good maneuverability and powerful engines. Yuuya being used to this machine causes difficulty when he first starts piloting the 94 Second.
* LastStand:
** Yui's instructor does this in episode 2, when he saves her from a [=BETA=]. He then tells them to retreat back to the rallying point, while he holds off the approaching [=BETA=]. As he makes his last stand, the camera focuses briefly on a severe cut he sustained in an earlier battle.
** Yuuya attempts one in episode 23 to buy time for Yui and the others to escape. He finds himself overwhelmed rather quickly from their superior numbers, although Inia ends up [[BigDamnHeroes helping him out]], along with the rest after they head back.
* [[BulletproofHumanShield Laserproof BETA Shield]]: Keith uses a Heavy Laser-class BETA to protect his Raptor from Laser-class fire in the final episode. It actually works a lot better than one would expect, as Lasers don't fire on other BETA.
* LatexSpaceSuit: The Reinforced Suits, which act as extremely effective G-suits (Yuuya is able to withstand a 9G maneuver that renders Yui unconscious) and fanservice.
* LethalChef: Lt. Cui gives Yuuya some mapo tofu in episode 19. When Yuuya comments it looks dangerous to eat, she mentions several people having tried it out already. He then looks over and sees lots of people passed out, then when she feeds him some, he screams as the camera pans up towards the sky.
* LeeroyJenkins: Tarisa charges at Yui's mech in episode 5. Like the trope implies, it doesn't go well for her.
* LeftHanging: [[spoiler: The anime's end at episode 25 cuts off further plot points revealed in other adaptations]].
* LightningBruiser: Most second and third generation [[AMechByAnyOtherName TSF]]s qualify as this.
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Yuuya is initially distrustful of Commander Latrova in episode 14, wondering if she's in on the Soviet officer's plans. [[spoiler: Then he realizes she doesn't know anything either, and was simply following orders. Which makes it more painful when she and her troops are killed off by the PoliticalOfficer to silence them from a plan they knew nothing about in the first place.]]
** It seems both Yui and Lt. Sandek were unaware of a back up plan the US had put in Alaska to prevent the [=BETA=] from gaining a foothold on North America. See HoldTheLine for further details on it.
* LongLostRelative:[[spoiler: Yuuya is really Yui's half-brother not that he finds out]]
* LoveDodecahedron: Yuuya, Cryska and Yui were originally part of a small LoveTriangle. However, once Lt. Cui shows up and declares her interest in him, the trope is bumped up to this, particularly as the latter is not shy about expressing her feelings for Yuuya and outright declares being his wife.
* LoveEpiphany: Cryska seems to realize something's wrong with her emotions when she's around Yuuya around episode 15 and 16, which affects her performance on the field. She tries to ask Yuuya about it in episode 17, but his answer doesn't resolve her feelings, particularly after he buys both of them flowers, and especially when Lt. Cui shows up and goes into ClingyJealousGirl mode in front of them. After this episode, she's much less comfortable around Yuuya.
* LoverTugOfWar: A brief one between Inia and Cryska regarding Yuuya in episode 19.
* MaleGaze: Doesn't happen too often, but it's there. Pretty blatant during [[BeachEpisode episodes 6 & 7.]]
* MauveShirt: Corporal Yamamoto practically hangs a target on his chest and begs the [=BETA=] to give him an awesome death.
** The entire Zhar Battalion falls under this in episode 14. [[spoiler: Many of them survive the [[TrialByFriendlyFire bombing run]] and [=BETA=] attacks from earlier, but then are killed off by the Scarlet Twins.]]
* AMechByAnyOtherName: The [=TSF=], or '''Tactical Surface Fighter'''.
* MerchandiseDriven: Inverted, in a way. Total Eclipse was just meant to be a smaller story to promote a line of [=TSF=] figures, but became so popular that it outstripped the merch it was supposed to move.
* MercyKill: In episode 2, Yui's final friend begs her to do this, shooting her so that she can be spared the pain and torture of being EatenAlive by the BETA's breaking into her mecha. Yui hesitates initially, but then does it. However, due to a combination of things (distance, Yui's shock, being unable to aim very well, not really wanting to shoot/kill her friend, and yelling very loudly), all of her shots miss.
** She does it correctly in episode 12 after the corporal helping her gets caught by the [=BETA=] and is in the process of being torn to pieces.
* MidSeasonUpgrade: Yuuya gets a new [=TSF=] after they return from the front lines in the Soviet Union.
** Tarisa also upgrades from the F-15 ACTV Eagle to the XFJ-01.
** Both Stella and Valerio upgrade from F-15E Strike Eagles to F-15 ACTV Eagles.
* MissionControl: Lt. Ibrahim, and occasionally Yui.
* ModestyTowel: Yui wears one in episode 19, but its because she wasn't told to bring a swimsuit like the other women were. Inia and Cryska also have one, but at least in Inia's case, she chose not to bring it. All three of them either get the towel taken away, or it falls off them when they go in the hot springs.
* MoodWhiplash: During the Soviet arc, and during the RLF arc, the tone of the series becomes much DarkerAndEdgier. [[AnyoneCanDie Body counts go way up]] compared to many of the episodes which precede and come after them.
* MoreDakka:
** American TSF doctrine firmly believes in this. It's followed to a lesser extent by other nations.
** Despite being optimized for close combat, the Type-94 Shiranui can have four 36mm autocannons firing at once, on the same target. In fact, this 'Gun Sweeper' loadout can be fitted on pretty much any TSF and is a central part of TSF combat doctrine.
** In supplemental materials, this is the entire point of the A-10, which carries a ''ridiculous'' number of guns, and is the only TSF to have shoulder-mounted [[GatlingGood gatling guns]].
** The Type-99 Electo-Magnetic Induction Launcher turns out to be a railgun... with an ''800 rounds per minute'' rate of fire, that combines rapid fire with hard-hitting shells. It doesn't kill [=BETA=], it literally ''vaporises them''.
* AMotherToHerMen: Commander Latrova, the leader of the Zhar Battalion. She is so respected by the soldiers under her command that whatever she asks, they'll do, whether its to break up a potential rape scene, or to save Yuuya's life and get him out of the combat zone even though her soldiers hate his guts.
* MsExposition: Natalie in episode 21. [[spoiler: She turns out to be part of the terrorist group, the RLF, Refugee Liberation Front, who claim to be fighting for oppressed people everywhere who the UN doesn't consider worth saving due to the [=BETA=] invasion. Yuuya even [[LampshadeHanging wonders why]] she's talking so much, only to then get killed by one of her own members after she starts to reveal a little too much information.]]
* MultinationalTeam: Argos Flight, which has Nepali, Swedish, Italian, and American pilots, and is commanded by a Turkish officer. For bonus points, they're attached to a joint US-Japan development program run by a Japanese officer.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After Cryska and Inia break out of their brainwashing in episode 25, they realize they just stabbed Yuuya's [=TSF=]. There is also a lot of fluid leaking from it, [[spoiler: but it turns out he wasn't hit, or at least was only nicked in the arm.]]
* NewMeat: Yuuya is viewed as this by the combat veterans in the Soviet army in episode 9 since he has no combat experience. They mock him and hope that he gets killed within the first 8 minutes of combat like many new soldiers often do. Yuuya being a nervous wreck at the time doesn't help it much more either.
* NotSoDifferentRemark: Yuuya finds out about this with the Latrova in episode 10. [[spoiler: Yuuya questions why her troops attacked Cryska and Inia in episode 7. She tells him about how both girls are about as elite as one can get in the Soviet Union, while the ones bearing the brunt of the fighting are non-Russians. So therefore they are understandably irked when Russians walk around the base as if they own it and did most of the fighting. She then asks Yuuya if the US doesn't have its share of racism, which instantly brings back his memories from childhood.]]
* NotWhatItLooksLike: When Cryska goes out to find more firewood in episode 7, she collapses after a brief conversation with Yuuya. He manages to grab her before she slumps to the ground, and tries to get her back on her feet. Unfortunately, it also seems like they're hugging each other, which Yui [[ClingyJealousGirl isn't too happy to see]] when she shows up a few moments later.
* NukeEm: [[spoiler:The United States leased half of Alaska to the Soviet government (which had fled there after Eurasia was overrun by BETA), but had secretly planted ''hydrogen bombs'' all over the place, ready to detonate them should the BETA invade in force.]]
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: In episode 9, some Russian officers are discussing the current battle, and why they haven't sent more reinforcements in to help out. One of them mentions that should they lose any real valuable resources such as planes, some idiot in the government is going to want to know why. So they purposely held back air support to prevent losing any of them, even though they would lose a lot of soldiers in the process.
* OhCrap: It would not be a Muv-Luv Alternative sidestory if these didn't happen:
** Yui's reaction to seeing [[spoiler: Tank-class BETA entering the hangar where the Type-99 railgun is stored.]]
** Latrova's reaction [[spoiler: to learning that the Scarlet Twins are being sent to eliminate Zhar]].
** In Episode 15, Yui has a more amusing and Adorkable OhCrap moment, [[spoiler: when she realises she's fallen for Yuuya]].
** Mariem, one of the RLF members, has this look in episode 24 when Soviet Spetsnaz and US Delta Force troops begin their assault to retake Alaska base.
* OneDialogueTwoConversations: When Vincent is talking to some buddies visiting from the US military in episode 16, they ask about the girl they saw Yuuya with earlier. Vincent assumes they were referring to Yui, and describes her a bit. But when they mention other characteristics, such as silver hair, it dawns on him that they're actually referring to Cryska.
* OutOfFocus: Surprisingly, the [=BETA=] seem to be suffering from this. When they are shown, they're pretty vicious and brutal, but many episodes are devoted to the human characters, and their dealings and manipulations against each other. To be fair, the main characters are test pilots, so therefore wouldn't normally be fighting in the front, but even Yuuya at one point wonders why they're developing [=TSF=] to combat the [=BETA=], when all they seem to be doing is fighting other humans with them.
* PlaceholderTitles: Episode 2 plays the opening song, but has scenes from the first episode in it instead of the intro used in later episodes after the main cast is introduced.
* PsychicPowers: [[spoiler:Cryska Barchenowa and Inia Sestina]] who are [[spoiler:among the last survivors of Alternative III, an attempt to communicate with the BETA using psychics.]]
* RankUp: Inverted. Ibrahim and Sandek are mere 1st Lieutenants in the UN Army; however Ibrahim was a Captain in the Turkish Army and Sandek was a Major in the Soviet Army.
* RealRobot: The [=TSFs=] are just another component in the military forces' combined arms doctrine, and many are just as easily destroyed by the [=BETA=] as tanks and other soldiers.
* ReassignedToAntarctica: Played straight for Yuuya, who views his reassignment to Project PROMINENCE as a demotion. The other pilots don't seem to share his opinion, given that Yukon Base is at the forefront of TSF development.
* RecapEpisode: Episode 20 gives the gist of what's been happening in the series up to that point. It also introduces a new opening and closing song for the remainder of the series.
* RedShirtArmy: Pretty much anyone who's not a TSF pilot main character.
** The non-Russians are pretty much treated this way by the Soviet Union, which fuels much of their hatred and contempt for Russians such as Cryska and Inia (although interestingly enough they respect Commander Latrova, who is Russian. But in her case its likely because she's fighting out there with them day in and day out). The Far East arc in episodes 8-14 also shows that they're treated as disposable as well, and any losses they suffer are deemed acceptable. Whereas other assets, such as bomber planes, are valued more highly.
* TheRemnant:
** Alaska houses a GovernmentInExile for the rump Soviet Union, which is leasing half of the state from the US.
** Project PROMINENCE is intended to give nations that've lost their homelands to BETA a chance to continue developing [=TSFs=].
* [[MexicoCalledTheyWantTexasBack Russia Called, They Want Alaska Back]]: Russia, which sold Alaska to the US, is now leasing the northern half of the state.
* SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining: Cryska is unaware of what a "date" is and asks Yuuya what it is in episode 16.
* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Yuuya uses this a couple of times in the series, first with Yui, and later when Lt. Cui shows up and declares herself to be his wife.
* ShipperOnDeck:
** Yuuya's friend Vincent suggests this to him regarding Yui in episode 5 since they think a lot alike. Yuuya doesn't take that suggestion very well.
** The Argos Flight personnel are totally this for Yui and Yuuya, even though the BridgeBunnies think she's [[ObliviousToLove wasted on him]].
* ShipSinking: [[spoiler: The Total Eclipse VN sinks the Yuuya/Yui by having Yuuya fall for Cryska, then sinks Yuuya/Cryska by having her die of esper-related complications. And if that wasn't enough, [[CargoShip Yuuya/Shiranui]] is ''also'' sunk!]]
* ShoutOut:
** The series can be described as [[Anime/MacrossPlus Muv-Luv Plus]], especially given who Yuuya is an Expy of.
** Episode 1 also has some strong ''Anime/{{Gunbuster}}'' vibes.
** Yuuya and Yui's encounters strongly evoke [[Film/TopGun Maverick and Charlie]].
** Zhar Battalion's second-in-command is named [[Series/BabylonFive Ivanova]].
** In Episode 14, Latrova sends Tasha and Zhar on a [[UsefulNotes/WildWeasel Laserjagd]] mission; the use of this term is a shoutout to the serial novel ''Shwarzesmarken'', which followed an East German TSF squadron tasked with Laser-class hunting missions.
** Episode 18 is a shoutout to ''Film/TopGun''. [[spoiler: Yuuya's old CO was killed in a training accident indirectly caused by him, and he's a more handsome version of Goose. Also, the inquiry's result is taken almost word-for-word from the movie]].
* ShowerOfAngst: ''Twice'' in the 5th episode.
* SlasherSmile: A few examples:
** Both Inia and Cryska display one in epiosde 9 when fighting in their TSF.
** Lt. Cui displays one in episode 16 when fighting Yuuya.
* SpitTake: Vincent does two in episode 16 while talking to some buddies who are visiting from the US when they ask him about Yuuya.
** Yui does one in episode 17 after the bartender asks her if the carrots she bought were to make something for Yuuya. Which she likely bought after asking him if he liked carrots earlier in the episode.
* SuicidePact: [[spoiler: Several of the RLF terrorists are also part of a group called [[{{Cult}} "Allegiance"]]. Many of them killed other people first, then broadcast over the radio that they "won", then commit suicide.]]
* SuperPrototype: There are several in-series:
** The Takemikazuchi prototype [[spoiler: that rescues Yui]] in the prologue.
** The Su-37UB Terminator piloted by the Scarlet Twins.
** The F-22A Raptor EMD Phase 2, the final preproduction model of the Raptor, piloted by the Infinities (in a welcome subversion, the mass production Raptor is ''superior'' to the EMD Phase 2 machines).
** The Su-47E Berkut in a [=TSFiA=] sidestory, set after the anime, and in the final anime arc.
* SpoilerOpening: The new OP gives hints to the final arc, such as [[spoiler: Yifei standing in front of a Strike Eagle, RLF members, and the Berkut trampling on Tarisa's Shiranui Niigata.]]
* SpySpeak: A disguised RLF member and [[spoiler: Natalie]] engage in this at the start of episode 21.
* StormingTheCastle: The Soviet Spetsnaz and US Special Forces do this when retaking Alaska base back from the RLF terrorists.
* StupidEvil: No other words can describe the Snideley Whiplash-esqe villainy of the Soviet military leaders.
* SurvivorGuilt: Yui displays this a little in episode 8 when she tells Yuuya she doesn't want to see him get killed, and reminisces about her friends who died early on.
* TacticalRockPaperScissors: Engagements with BETA tend to follow this. The Destroyer and Grappler-class BETA are powerful close combat bioforms, but can be easily dispatched from the air, which is why Laser-class BETA escort them to deny air superiority. Also, the sheer volume of fire required to get artillery shells past the laser spam is impractical for major engagements, as artillery batteries will run out of ammo long before making a significant impact. Sidestories show that there are dedicated [=TSF=] squadrons [[UsefulNotes/WildWeasel deployed to hunt Laser-class]], in order to allow airstrikes and artillery bombardment.
* TacticalWithdrawal:
** Yui's commander has them do this in episode 2 after their base is overrun, and there were more [=BETA=] approaching their position. Unfortunately many of them get shot down by the laser [=BETA=] while attempting to flee the area, including the commander.
** The Zhar commander in episode 9 tries to do this to lure the [=BETA=] into range of Yuuya's railgun. It doesn't go smoothly however, due to the sheer amount of [=BETA=] present, along with a small group of them attempting to flank them as they withdraw, which he warns them about.
* TakeAThirdOption: When they seem to be out of ideas on what to do next in episode 23, Yuuya suggests they attack the Soviet hangars. Although the hangars are under RLF control, he says they probably wouldn't expect an attack there, and in guerrilla warfare, it's best to take enemy weapons whenever possible. Since they don't have enough fuel or ammo to make it to a friendly base in time, or take out the newly discovered [=BETA=], no one protests it.
* TakingYouWithMe: One of the critically wounded RLF soldiers piloting a [=TSF=] attempts to do this to Lt. Cui in episode 23, by setting off her self-destruct while simultaneously bear-hugging Lt. Cui's [=TSF=] after the latter attempted to retrieve her weapon.
* TanksForNothing: Tanks are shown to be largely ineffective against the [=BETA=]. [=TSFs=] are only slightly better, depending on the pilot and how much PlotArmor they're wearing that episode.
* TemptingFate: In episode 2, after surviving past the 8 minutes that most soldiers normally last against the BETA's, one of the girls happily exclaims that she survived it. Cue a BETA then rushing past, and her mecha promptly getting ''chomped in half'' and blowing up.
** In episode 10, when the [=BETA=] attack again, many of the human characters comment that there's not that many of them attacking. One character comments that the ones attacking are the remnants from the first wave in episode 8. One of them wonders if this battle is going too well. [[spoiler: Then it turns out there's a large horde of them burrowing underneath, and they reappear close to the base as the episode ends. Another character comments that the [=BETA=] are doing this to avoid the railgun Yuuya used in episode 8.]]
* TranquilFury: After Yuuya stops "fighting" with his mech and trying to force it to do things it wasn't designed for in episode 5, he begins to realize its potential strengths in combat.
** He utilizes this trope again in episode 16 to defeat Lt. Cui by utilizing his sword's strengths in speed rather than simply trying to overpower her, which he wasn't able to do anyway.
* TheUnfought: [[spoiler: The Argos Test Flight never battles the Infinities in the anime due to the attack on Yukon Base.]]
* {{Twincest}}: Downplayed. Although they're clearly not in romantic love with each other Cryska and Inia share a bath in one episode and are otherwise rather intimate even when naked.
* UnknownRival: Yui's main reaction towards Lt. Cui regarding Yuuya, although the latter likes to bring it up to her a lot.
* UnwantedHarem: Yuuya seems to be developing one around episodes 15-16. While he had female admirers before this, some of the new ones, such as Lt. Cui, seem a bit more proactive in declaring their interest in him.
* VillainousRescue: [[spoiler: Yuuya and the Zhar battalion are saved from the Soviet bombers by the arrival of some Laser class [=BETA=] in episode 14.]]
** Inia is saved in episode 22 by the Infinities, [[spoiler: who may or may not be her enemies at this point due to the confusion of the RLF attack on Yukon Base.]]
* WatchingTroyBurn: Yui is forced to watch Kyoto fall in episode 2.
* WeakButSkilled: Yuuya deliberately invokes this in episode 3, taking an F-15E Strike Eagle against Tarisa in the F-15 ACTV.
* WeAreStrugglingTogether: While they're fighting an alien invasion rather than a corrupt government, the trope is still played straight, as the Soviet Union's forces, largely represented by Cryska and Inia, don't exactly work alongside the same way the other characters do, such as Yuuya, Stella, VG, and Tarisa.
** Episode 8 shows that even within the Soviet Union, many of the non-Russians strongly resent people like Cryska, who they feel got special treatment. They tell her that many Russians were evacuated to Alaska while non-Russians such as Georgians and Kazakhs bear the brunt of the fighting against the [=BETA=] in Russia. It seems to be a shock to Cryska that they resent her and Inia so much despite supposedly being on the same team.
** In episode 11, the Soviet Union suggests a retreat from the base as the [=BETA=] approach it. They also prioritize evacuating the UN forces and their crew members first while their own forces hold off the advancing enemies. [[spoiler: Then the UN pilots and Yui figure out that they were deliberately doing this in an attempt to acquire the rail gun the Japanese government built, but without making it look like they were. This backfires on the Soviets: they launch Tu-95 heavy bombers to level their own base as a cover-up, but [[SpannerInTheWorks the mission brings them into range of the first BETA Laser-classes ever to appear in Kamchatka]] and the Soviets' biggest advantage over the aliens in the theatre is lost to AntiAir fire in seconds.]]
** Episode 21 provides some powerful drama [[spoiler: when it turns out that not all humans are struggling the same way. The Refugee Liberation Front, or RLF, are opposed to what the UN is doing because they're spending a lot of money and not doing much to save people who are suffering around the world due to the [=BETA=] invasion.]]
* WeHaveReserves:
** Played straight with the [=BETA=]. Though they can be killed, their sheer numbers usually overwhelms any defenses the humans put up against them. Some characters may be given a HopeSpot where they manage to defeat some, only to find out there are several dozen more still heading their way.
** Painfully subverted in episode 9. While the humans have a decent sized force, it's nowhere near the size needed to protect Yuuya and his squad due to the sheer amount of [=BETA=] in the field. Justified since one Russian commander mentions that they haven't been able to get new reinforcements to replace ones lost from recent battles. Another also hints at some ObstructiveBureaucrat in the Soviet government who purposely held back a large portion of their force so as to try and cause the UN test with the railgun to fail. [[spoiler: The Zhar commander is not happy that her troops were meant to die, and Yuuya ends up saving many of the troops when he test fires the railgun, and wipes out the remaining [=BETA=].]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: The RLF has a motive for doing what they're doing in episode 21. [[spoiler: They're basically standing up for people whom the UN has deemed not worthy of being saved, and are either ignoring their plight, or at best not giving them adequate supplies/troops to help them counter the [=BETA=] attacks in their various homelands.]]
* WhamEpisode: Episode 21. Surprisingly enough, it's not about the [=BETA=], [[spoiler: but rather, a human terrorist/resistance movement, who attempts to take over the testing facility where the main story takes place. They're doing it largely because they feel the UN/US/USSR are spending lots of money and are only interested in saving certain people, at the expense of everyone else who's considered expendable.]]
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: In episode 17, Cryska asks Yuuya about why thinking about him is causing both her and Inia to have lapses in their concentration. Yuuya, for whatever reason, says that those feelings are the result of stress from their superiors in order to perform better. At first Cryska seems to accept this answer, but then after seeing Inia admiring some flowers, he buys some for both of them, and then Lt. Cui shows up, gets [[ClingyJealousGirl upset at him and hits him twice]], it only further confuses her as to why she [[LoveEpiphany feels this way]] towards him.
** At the end of episode 25, Cryska asks Yui something. After the credits roll, Cryska asks if they're enemies now. Yui says they're something much worse and more complicated than that, [[spoiler: love rivals for Yuuya.]]
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Lt. Sandek speculates about this in episode 22. [[spoiler: He thinks the RLF terrorists may either be Americans, or at the very least, a terrorist group that the US has knowingly allowed to infiltrate and take over the base. He then mentions that the US has done this many times in the past, so as to look like the victim, and therefore be justified in any military actions they take. While no specifics are given, he's probably alluding to events such as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during UsefulNotes/WorldWar2 and the Gulf of Tonkin Incident which sparked the Vietnam War.]]
* XanatosGambit: The Soviet Union devised an elaborate plot set up in order to steal the rail gun the UN forces were testing out in their lands in episode 11. Without trying to look like they were, as Yui concludes when she sense something wrong with the evacuation of the base, the priority given to get the UN forces out first, [[spoiler: and the fact that her self-destruct codes weren't working when she was trying to destroy it as the [=BETA=] began to overrun the base.]] The Soviets also have a bomber fleet ready to fly within 5 minutes, but chose not to deploy them right away despite there being no laser class [=BETA=] in the area. [[spoiler: It's likely they wanted to get the UN forces out of their base first, then order the bombers to decimate the [=BETA=], after which they could take the rail gun and send it back to Moscow for analysis, while plausibly claiming that the rail gun was destroyed.]]
** Episode 14 takes it further. The Soviets finally send out the bombers, [[spoiler: but in addition to wiping out the [=BETA=], the bombers were meant to kill any remaining Zhar Battalion soldiers who were still alive in the area. Since their latest orders were to retake the base, the officers could simply bomb the base, then claim they were lost to the [=BETA=]. Only the unexpected arrival of Laser class [=BETA=] saved them from the bombers, but then they send out the Scarlet Twins to mop up any remaining [=BETA=], as well as kill any remaining Zhar soldiers, so as to eliminate any other witnesses in the area, and then paint the fallen soldiers as heroes who gave their lives to protect the Motherland.]]
* YouAreInCommandNow: Yui briefly takes over for her squad in episode 2 after their commander is shot down by a laser [=BETA=]. Unfortunately all she can really do is tell them to release a smoke screen and fly really close to the ground to avoid being shot down.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: [[spoiler: Mariem in episode 24, who gets killed by Allegiance plant, when she attempts to have the remaining RLF members help stop the [=BETA=] attack which would trigger Red Shift.]]
* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: Episode 21 introduces the RLF, or Refugee Liberation Front. [[spoiler: They claim to be a group of people who are fighting to save all of humanity, not just certain groups of people the UN is considering.]]
* YouShallNotPass: In episode 2, Yui's instructor does this against the impending BETA invasion to buy her and her remaining friends time to escape to the rally point. After they leave, the camera pans on the instructor, who's holding his side, which appears to be bleeding heavily.
** Guylos [=McCloud=] pulls a more comedic version (plus ''smother by his massive pecs'') of this trope against the guys in Episode 19, to keep them from peeking in at the girls' hot springs.
** The Scarlet Twins, Yui and Tarisa attempt this in episodes 24 and 25. [[spoiler: They don't quite kill all the BETA, especially with the Twins gone beserk, but they hold off the BETA long enough for American bombers to arrive.]]
* ZergRush: The [=BETA's=] greatest strength. They typically move in groups of at least several thousand and it's quite likely troops run out of ammo before they run out of [=BETA=] to kill even if they don't get overrun.

----

* NotSoDifferent: Yuuya finds out about this with the Latrova in episode 10. [[spoiler: Yuuya questions why her troops attacked Cryska and Inia in episode 7. She tells him about how both girls are about as elite as one can get in the Soviet Union, while the ones bearing the brunt of the fighting are non-Russians. So therefore they are understandably irked when Russians walk around the base as if they own it and did most of the fighting. She then asks Yuuya if the US doesn't have its share of racism, which instantly brings back his memories from childhood.]]

In 1973, an invasion of aliens known as BETA upon Earth is driving human civilization into near collapse. Facing an enormous, [[ZergRush unstoppable horde of enemy forces]] with [[FrickinLaserBeams weapons making aircraft almost useless]], mankind developed large humanoid fighting machines called [[RealRobot Tactical Surface Fighters]] and deployed them to defensive lines throughout the world. However, all these efforts could do was stall the BETA temporarily, and mankind is forced to abandon continental Eurasia. For the next 30 years, mankind finds itself bogged down in an endless war against the BETA without any hope of victory.

* FrickinLaserBeams: Laser-class and Heavy Laser-class BETA are one of the major reasons humanity is losing as their range, accuracy and power makes aircraft almost impossible to use.

* ConspicuousCG: The [=BETA=], made more obvious if there's a human character in the same scene, such as when Yui was approached by some at the end of episode 2.

** The subtitles for the anime give the TSF pilots naval ranks, with Yuuya and his squadron members being said to be ensigns. Leaving aside that this seemingly underranks everyone except Yuuya (who is a rookie, though a talented one, at the start of the series) and possibly Yui[[note]]First Lieutenant (''Rikugun-Chūi'' 陸軍中尉) Takamura is probably not underranked for her age and time in grade, but probably ''is'' underranked for her responsibilities. Additionally, a war as bloody as the fight with the BETA has been would probably result in more rapid promotions for combat veterans like herself [[YouAreInCommandNow due to superior officers getting killed]].[[/note]], he's (again) said to be in the Army and thus should be a second lieutenant. Ditto the Red Army Zhar Battalion CO Fikatsia Latrova, whose rank should be lieutenant colonel (''podpolkovnik'' in Russian) rather than commander (which wasn't even a rank used in the Soviet ''Navy'': the equivalent in the USSR and ex-Soviet countries is captain 2nd rank).

* AFatherToHisMen: Commander Latrova, the leader of the Zhar Battalion. She is so respected by the soldiers under her command that whatever she asks, they'll do, whether its to break up a potential rape scene, or to save Yuuya's life and get him out of the combat zone even though her soldiers hate his guts.

[[redirect:LightNovel/MuvLuvAlternativeTotalEclipse]]

In 1973, an invasion of aliens known as BETA upon Earth is driving human civilization into near collapse. Facing an enormous, [[ZergRush unstoppable horde of enemy forces]] with [[FrickinLaserBeams weapons making aircraft almost useless]], mankind developed large humanoid fighting machines called [[RealRobot Tactical Surface Fighters]] and deployed them to defensive lines throughout the world. However, all these efforts could do was stall the BETA temporarily, and mankind is forced to abandon continental Eurasia. For 30 years, mankind has been bogged down in an endless war against the BETA without any hope of victory.

In 1998, BETA make landfall on Kyushu island, and in short order Kyoto, the capital of Imperial Japan, is lost, despite a desperate defense.

The year is 2001. As Imperial Japan defends the front lines of the Far East, it faces difficulties in the development of a next-generation [=TSF=]. A solution appears in the [=XFJ=] program, a joint development between the US and Japan, under the auspicious of Project PROMINENCE, a UN-sponsored program intended to spur next-generation TSF development, using test pilots, scientists and engineers from around the world, gathering at Alaska's Yukon Base.

''Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse'' is a MuvLuv Alternative sidestory published as a series of light novels, which received an animated adaptation that began airing on July 2nd, 2012.

!!This work contains examples of:

* AcePilot:
** Practically all test pilots at Yukon are this, particularly those who hail from countries that have fallen to the [=BETA=].
** Yuuya's previous assignment was as a test pilot at Groom Lake, nevada, aka Area 51.
* BridgeBunnies: Three of them appear, monitoring Argos Flight's combat performance.
* CripplingOverspecialization: This is in part why Imperial Japan needs the [=XFJ=] program, as the Shiranui is too specialised to be upgraded, and requires a completely new TSF to be developed.
* {{DecoyProtagonist}}: The prologue episodes follow Yui Takemura, before episode 3 switches to Yuuya Bridges' viewpoint.
* DefeatEqualsFriendship: Yui initially doesn't get along with Kazusa Yamashiro, as the latter views her as a rival. They become friends after Yui defeats her in a mock batlle.
* DodgeByBraking: Used multiple times to force an overshoot. The success rate varies.
* {{Expy}}:
** Yuuya is essentially a combined expy of [[TopGun Maverick]] and [[MacrossPlus Isamu Dyson]].
** The various [=TSFs=] seen are expies of real world fighters, reimagined as mecha.
* FrickinLaserBeams: Laser class and Heavy Laser class BETA are one of the major reasons humanity is losing as their range, accuracy and power makes aircraft almost impossible to use.
* {{Gorn}}: Episode 2. [[spoiler: Yui is forced to watch as her friends are eaten alive, complete with internal organ removal. {{Squick}}]]
* HoldTheLine: The defense of Kyoto boils down to this. [[spoiler:It doesn't work.]]
* MoreDakka:
** American TSF doctrine firmly believes in this. It's followed to a lesser extent by other nations.
** Despite being optimised for close combat, the Type-94 Shiranui can have four 36mm autocannons firing at once, on the same target. In fact, this 'gunsweeper' loadout can be fitted on pretty much any TSF and is a central part of TSF combat doctrine.
** In supplemental materials, this is the entire point of the A-10.
* MultinationalTeam: Argos Flight, which has Nepali, Swedish, Italian, and American pilots, and is commanded by a Turkish and a Japanese officer.
* [[ReassignedtoAntarctica Reassigned to Alaska]]: Played straight for Yuuya, who views his reassignment to Project PROMINENCE as a demotion. The other pilots don't seem to share his opinion, given that Yukon Base is at the forefront of TSF development.
* ShoutOut:
** The series can be described as [[MacrossPlus Muv-Luv Plus]], especially given who Yuuya is an Expy of.
** Episode 1 also has some strong {{Gunbuster}} vibes.
** Yuuya and Yui's encounters strongly evoke [[TopGun Maverick and Charlie]].
* WeakButSkilled: Yuuya deliberately invokes this in episode 3, taking an F-15E Strike Eagle against Tarisa in the F-15 ACTV.
* ZergRush: The [=BETA's=] greatest strength. They typically move in groups of at least several thousand and it's quite likely troops run out of ammo before they run out of [=BETA=] to kill even if they don't get overrun.
----

* AcePilot: Practically all test pilots at Yukon are this, particularly those who hail from countries that have fallen to the [=BETA=].

* MoreDakka: American TSF doctrine firmly believes in this. It's followed to a lesser extent by other nations.
** Despite being optimised for close combat, the Type-94 Shiranui can have four 36mm autocannons firing at once, on the same target.
*** In fact, this 'gunsweeper' loadout can be fitted on pretty much any TSF and is a central part of TSF combat doctrine.

** Episode 1 also has some strong [[Gunbuster]] vibes.

* ZergRush: The [=BETA's=] greatest strength. They typically move in groups of at least several thousand and it's quite likely troops run out of ammo before they run out of [=BETA=] to kill even if they don't get overrun.

In 1973, an invasion of aliens known as BETA upon Earth is driving human civilization into near collapse. Facing an enormous, [[ZergRush unstoppable horde of enemy forces]], mankind developed large humanoid fighting machines called as [[RealRobot Tactical Surface Fighters]] and deployed them to defensive lines throughout the world. However, all these efforts could do was stall BETA temporarily, and mankind is forced to abandon major area of the Eurasian Continent. For 30 years, mankind is bogged down in an endless war against BETA without any hopes of victory.

''Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse'' is a MuvLuv Alternative sidestory, which received an animated adaptation that began airing on July 2nd, 2012.

* MultinationalTeam: Argos Flight, which has Nepali, Swedish, Italian, and American pilots, and is commanded by a Turkish officer.

* WeakButSkilled: Yuuya deliberately invokes this in episode 3, taking an F-15E Strike Eagle against Tarisa in the F-15 ACTV.

''Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse'' is a Muv-Luv Alternative sidestory, which received an animated adaptation that began airing on July 2nd, 2012.

* DodgeByBraking: Used multiple times to force an overshoot. The sypuccess rate varies.

* HoldTheLine: The defense of Kyoto boils down to this. [spoiler: It doesn't work.]

** Yuuya's previous assignment was as a test pilot at Groom Lake, nevada, aka Aa 51.

The year is 2001. As Imperial Japan defends the front lines of the Far East, it faces difficulties in the development of a next-generation [=TSF=]. A solution appears in the [=XFJ=] program, a joint development between the US and Japan, under the auspicious of Project Prominence, UN-sponsored program intended to spur next-generation TSF development, using test pilots, scientists and engineers from around the world, gathering at Alaska's Yukon Base.

* [[ReassignedtoAntarctica Reassigned to Alaska]]

* WeakButSkilled: Yuuya deliberately invokes this in episode 3, taking an F-15C against Tarisa in the [[AceCustom F-15 ACTV]].

* {{DecoyPratagonist}}: The prologue episodes follow Yui Takemura, before episode 3 switches to Yuuya Bridges' viewpoint.

* DecoyPratagonist: The prologue episodes follow Yui Takemura, before episode 3 switches to Yuuya Bridges' viewpoint.
* Expy:

In 1973, an invasion of aliens known as BETA upon Earth is driving human civilization into near collapse. Facing an enormous mass of enemy force, mankind has developed large humanoid arms called as Tactical Surface Fighters and deployed them to its defense lines through out the world. However, all those efforts could slow down defeats but could not stop BETA, and mankind is forced to abandon major area of the Eurasian Continent. For 30 years, mankind is bogged down in an endless war against BETA without any hopes of victory.

In 2001, the Imperial Japan faces difficulties in the development of a next-generation main Tactical Surface Fighters (TSF) as it defends the front lines of the Far East. The UN has proposed a joint development program between the Imperial Japan and the United States as a part of its international mutual development project of TSF, the Prominence Project.

''Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse'' is a Muv-Luv Alternative sidestory, focusing on Project [=PROMINENCE=], a UN program intended to spur next-generation TSF development. Test pilots from around the world gather at Alaska's Yukon Base