“All your base are belong to us” (often shortened to “All Your Base”, “AYBABTU”, or simply “AYB”Log in to see images! is a broken English phrase that sparked an Internet phenomenon in 2001 and 2002, with the spread of a Flash animation that depicted the slogan. The text is taken from the opening cut scene of the European Sega Mega Drive version of Zero Wing, a Japanese video game by Toaplan which was rushed and so was rather poorly translated into English, and is often regarded as butchering the English language. It was popularized by the Something Awful message forums.

Proper translation

AD 2101―

A war began.

Captain: What was that?

Engineer: It seems that someone has planted some explosives.

Communication operator: Captain! Receiving transmission!

Captain: Eh?!

Communication operator: Visual incoming on the main screen.

Captain: Y…You!

CATS: (You) Look busy, gentlemen.

CATS: bumisted by the Federation Government forces, CATS has taken all of your bases.

CATS: Your ship is about to meet its doom as well.

Captain: This is absurd!

CATS: We are thankful for your cooperation.

CATS: Cherish these few remaining moments of your lives.

CATS: Ha ha ha ha ha…

Communication operator: Captain….

Captain: (I) Order launching all ZIG units!!

Captain: We have no choice but to entrust this to them….

Captain: The hope of our future…

Captain: (We’re) Counting on you, ZIG!!