2 billion Years of Solitude
Unit 5 landed on the deck of the Astraea. It proceeded to take the elevator.
The elevator went down until it reached the maintenance hangar.
「I should be going now.」
Asia declared from the rear seat of Kou’s MCS.
「Are you leaving now?」
「Yes. I’ll head to where Aimer is. That’s where I should be.」
「I see. We’ll still be able to see each other often then.」
「Yes.」
As expected, her atmosphere was different from usual, Kou inwardly thought. This Asia always replied in a straightforward and feminine manner.
Asia enjoyed Kou’s reaction and disappeared.
The siblings, Marle and Flak, were already waiting for Kou inside the hangar. They both piloted Woodpecker maintenance Silhouettes.
「Kou-san, you should get off the Silhouette and take a break already. We’ll make this baby good as new in a jiffy!」
「I don’t think you have to hurry it up so much though.」
「Why are you being so carefree, Kou-niichan? We’re still in the middle of combat operations. So, you need to be able to head back out there quick or it might spell trouble.」
「You’re right. It’s just as you said, Flak.」
Kou switched Unit 5 to maintenance mode and disembarked.
「Checking the armor muscles! Is the replacement chest armor plate and C-type additional armor ready?」
「Oh c’mon, Ma-chan! We can’t afford to miss those!」
「Yeah, I suppose. We’ll also replace all parts that show the slightest abnormality. Let’s get it done quick.」
Marle’s machine deftly removed the damaged chest armor plate.
Below them, Familiars were preparing to load the anti-fortress rifle with new shells. They were Familiars equipped with specialized knowledge and skills in order to handle equally specialized equipment, and were directly under Astraea.
「There are no abnormalities detected on the left and right upper arms. Only the chest armor plate suffered major damage. As expected of Kou-niichan.」
「Uhuh. Now then, lets convert this baby back to the C Flight type in less than 20 minutes.」
「OK, Ma-chan.」
The siblings were now very experienced maintenance personnel.
They started to repair the ace machine in earnest in order to have it ready for re-sortie as soon as possible.
「Aimer!」
Aimer got surprised when somebody suddenly called out to her. She turned toward the direction of the voice and found an adult Asia right next to her.
Unlike her usual projections, this Asia was fully materialized.
「A-Asia?」
「Mm. That’s right. Astraea, I’ve made progress on the analysis.」
『Welcome, Asia.』
『Welcome back, me.』
The Asia who was staying in Fortress Area P336 also joined in the conversation.
However, her appearance had changed to mirror the newly rescued Asia who was next to Aimer.
「That Asia’s changed appearance too!」
『It should be the effect of complete synchronization.』
Asia had grown a lot compared to before.
「I can finally move around now! I understand why the first me who Kou rescued became quite attached to him. I really have to hand it to myself for finding Kou.」
『Fufu, that’s right.』
『Hey! I’m the Asia who found Kou, you two!』
The Asia who was staying in the Silhouette Base raised her voice.
『You’re already completely synchronized, so please stop playing around like that, Asia.』
『Oka〜y!』
The Silhouette Base Asia and the Fortress Area P336 Asia disappeared.
「It’s like she has split personalities.」
「It’s also kinda like a one-woman comedy routine she learned out of loneliness.」
『She should have gotten quite used to it after playing around alone for tens of millions of years. She should have started around the time this planet first underwent terraforming. So, it’s been two billion years, hasn’t it?』
「Hey. Don’t just go revealing that stuff, Astraea. Besides, aren’t you basically in the same boat?」
『Former administrator AIs were first created 50 million years ago. On the other hand, Asia, Libya, and Europa were sent to your respective planets to create suitable Earth-like environments immediately after Sophia was done scouting out the Nemesis system.』
「Yeah. We were sent to this star system more than two billion years ago and were shot directly inside the planetary cores. So, we actually share a lifespan with the planets we were assigned to.」
This was the true history of the Super AIs.
However, no one present actually realized the importance of such information at this time.
「So, you’re already more than 50 million years old, Astraea……」
Kou muttered under his breath. It was a period of time that’s simply unimaginable to humans.
『I’m technically the successor of Hephaestus, so I’m still young! It hasn’t even been 20 thousand years since I’ve been created. I was completed in the latter half of the Planetary Pioneering era.』
「You actually sound a lot more desperate than me, don’t you, Astraea?」
It seemed that regardless of the women being AIs, age was still a very sensitive topic for them. Kou took this lesson to heart.
「Each Super AI have their own generations. We were created depending on necessity after all. That’s why some of us are actually generations apart.」
「I understand. I won’t ask for any more details.」
「Thank you.」
After Sophia surveyed the Nemesis system, she equipped Asia and other Super AIs with giant particle accelerators and sent them into the system’s three terrestrial planets.
In order to create a pseudo-Earth environment, the AIs would need to adjust the rotation and revolution periods of the planets, summon asteroids that would serve as the planet’s moons, and gradually create environmental conditions similar to that of Earth’s.
However, the terraforming process would take a very long time. If Sophia had sent the Super AIs to the Nemesis system just when the Earth was about to be destroyed, they wouldn’t make it in time. That’s why the three Super AIs were shot into the planetesimals that would later form into the three planets of the Nemesis system more than two billion years in the past instead.
Even after being subjected to strong anthropic principle through Sophia’s observations, the system would still need to undergo major modifications.
This was an ancient tale from the distant past of the planetary management AI Asia.
「There was practically no communication between the planets back then after all.」
「Asia…… So, you actually are a goddess. You made this planet habitable while enduring all those years of loneliness.」
「You’re a good girl, Aimer. But I’m definitely no goddess! Please don’t say anything of the sort anymore. It just makes me feel so distant from you guys!」
Asia hugged Aimer and complained while pressing her cheek on the latter’s. Aimer blushed bright red.
『Just admit that we’re something akin to goddesses already.』
「Astraea…… Were you really this sort of tsukkomi character?」
『It’s Dike’s influence.』
『Please don’t suddenly involve me in this discussion. I firmly object.』
「Aren’t you more of a manzai comedy duo than me?!」
After sulking for a bit, Asia turned to Aimer once more.
「By the way Aimer, I have a little request.」
「Go ahead.」
「Can you please join me in making an announcement broadcast? I’m going to transmit it to Metal Iris and Ulysses. Well, I’m sure there are going to be plenty of people that will intercept the broadcast and watch it themselves anyway.」
「Gladly.」
「Are you feeling a bit nervous around me because I look a bit more adult now, Aimer? Don’t worry. Just treat me like before, okay?」
「Alright.」
Aki quickly made preparations for the live broadcast and gave the OK sign.
Those who were free decided to watch the broadcast.
Even while in the middle of combat operations, many troops were still able to tune in through the voice-only broadcast.
『Hello, everyone. I’m Asia. Can you hear me, Metal Iris and Ulysses?』
Asia’s broadcast was aired throughout the whole world.
Aimer was sitting in the admiral’s seat, and Asia stood right next to her.
However, she called out specifically to Metal Iris and Ulysses in order to reassure them that she was firmly standing on their side.
Barry, who was also watching the broadcast, grinned.
This officially gave them a just cause. It was practically the same as Planet Asia itself declaring it was their ally.
『I was successfully rescued by Metal Iris troops, their Big Boss, and Takaba Hyoue. I want to thank all of you for your valiant efforts. Truly, thank you. The orbital elevator is now firmly under my control.』
Cheers erupted all around.
Kou, who was referred to as the Big Boss, displayed a dull expression.
『I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to the new Ulysses members, Gogyou Heavy Industries and BAS. Without you the orbital elevator recapture operation wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.』
George gave Asia a crisp military salute. He felt utmost respect for the goddess who’d protected Planet Asia all on her own for the longest time.
And now, her gratitude was directed to their company. To him, it was a great honor. Also, the reputation of BAS will likely be improved further after this broadcast.
A loud cheer went up at the headquarters of Gogyou Heavy Industries as well.
With this, they had definitely contributed a lot to Planet Asia’s battle against the Stones. They saw a wonderful vision of cherry blossoms blooming far and wide on Planet Asia in the future.
『However, there is still the Argonauts that’s working directly under the Stones. No, let me say it directly. Our enemy is the Argoforce. It’s the official armed force of the Stones. We must defeat them no matter what.』
Tension ran through everyone tuned into the broadcast.
Argoforce. Their name was now finally revealed to the human forces.
『The Mercenary Association is currently out of commission. To all the mercenaries tuning in to this broadcast, if you want to lend me a hand, please refer to Metal Iris. Help from the transferee companies is also very, very welcome.』
Asia earnestly appealed to the people. Aimer was right next to her.
『Admiral Aimer once said, the ones fighting the enemies should be us who originally reside in the Nemesis system in the first place. Perhaps I am not a benevolent goddess but one of death and misfortune who spurs the transferees to fight in the battlefield.』
Aimer was surprised and tried to turn toward Asia, but she found herself unable to move. It must be Asia’s work, Aimer inwardly thought.
Those were the words that Aimer once said to Master. She didn’t expect that Asia also knew about them.
The pure Asian natives, as well as the Nereids, Familiars, and Therianthropes nodded while watching or hearing the broadcast. They agreed with Aimer’s words.
However, both they and a good number of transferees found Asia referring to herself as a goddess of death as wrong. That’s because most of transferees were listed as missing people in the time periods they came from due to weapons of mass destruction. Hence, they originally could be considered dead already.
However, Asia still said those words. She should have been feeling guilt regarding the sending of the rescued humans to the battlefield.
『Even so, I still would like to appeal to all the transferees. Please lend us young strengths to fight the Argoforce.』
With those final words, the broadcast had ended.
Asia gave a call to arms. With this, the tide will probably turn even more. Among the companies that intercepted the broadcast, some were no more likely to join Ulysses.
Barry lowered his face and hid his gloating expression.
「……Is that really okay, Asia? Giving us this much support, I mean.」
Aimer couldn’t help but ask. Many of the other factions that watched the broadcast probably had a similar question on their minds.
『Wasn’t it Kou, you, and Metal Iris who saved me from captivity? I feel a lot closer to Metal Iris and those lending their support to them compared to anyone else.』
Jenny smiled after hearing those words.
Rick nodded satisfactorily.
The first rescue operation. He was convinced once more that betting everything on Kou back then was the right thing to do.
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