The Gift from Prometheus — Fennel
The battle between the carrier strike group with Astraea as their flagship and the Argonaut’s forces was extremely fierce.
Not only were the Edge Swifts engaged in fierce combat, but the destroyers and cruisers were as well.
The ships were also being operated through MCS. Hence, they can function even with a small skeleton crew. They had the ability to dive underwater to escort Astraea and can even sink half of their hulls during active combat.
Astraea was also properly armed.
60 mm Gatling guns were converted into anti-aircraft guns and served as its short-range defensive armaments. It was also equipped with defensive armaments that were capable of launching anti-air missiles. However, their range was relatively short.
It also sported two large-caliber railguns for engaging in direct combat.
The multi-purpose missile launchers were capable of launching both anti-air and anti-submarine ordnance. They were equipped in eight strategic locations on the hull of Astraea.
Astraea also possessed four large-caliber laser cannons that cannot be equipped on regular ships. Even Astraea, a ship that spanned more than 800 meters, still needed strong defensive armaments.
The one who was managing the large-caliber laser cannons was Ponko. By managing the two batteries separately, they will be able to display better performance than usual. When fighting to protect Aimer, Ponko’s abilities wouldn’t fall behind a Familiar’s.
The Familiars also operated each defensive weaponry system according to Aimer’s commands.
「They’ve taken air superiority huh.」
Aimer muttered. The enemy encirclement was gradually closing in on them.
The fact that they had air superiority taken from them meant that it had become difficult to resupply the Edge Swifts.
「It’s good enough to have fought to this extent. Everyone has held up well.」
「Indeed. That’s what I think as well.」
Aimer conversed with Master. Their losses were also gradually mounting.
「Astraea, please do your best to recover the children who have run out of ammunition using the tunnel decks. Can you do that?」
『I can. I can retrieve two aircraft and launch another two simultaneously.』
「That’s fine. Go ahead and instruct the approach controller.」
『Acknowledged.』
The approach controller guided the Edge Swifts that were requesting to land to the designated position on Astraea’s hull. Once the restraining wire gets ahold of a returning aircraft, it quickly pulls it inside Astraea.
The Edge Swifts that have already been resupplied were launched from the electromagnetic catapult on the ship’s bow.
The upper deck serves as a defensive roof that protects the fighters that were launching out from and landing on the ship from aerial bombardment.
「This is bad…… The enemy fighters have turned their attention to the surrounding cruisers and destroyers. Check your damage status. Dive and escape before your ships get incapacitated!」
Due to the fierceness of the anti-aircraft barrage coming from Astraea, the enemy fighters turned their attention to the surrounding escort vessels instead.
They didn’t have enough defensive strength to withstand direct hits from powerful anti-ship missiles. They were only powered by a reactor equipped with the same kind of A-Spinel powering an MCS. Even though their armor was still relatively thick, it had its limits.
However, none of the escort vessels submerged and continued engaging in anti-aircraft combat.
「Everyone……」
There were only two Familiars controlling each ship using MCS. Even if their hulls get critically damaged and take in water, performing damage control wouldn’t be possible.
Aimer’s chest tightened while thinking about her Familiar companions.
「Aimer-chan said we should evacuate.」
「Denied.」
「Same. Denied.」
Two hedgehog-type Familiars were serving as the pilots of an air defense escort ship. They both got along very well with Aimer. Their names were Chick and Tuck.
「But this ship won’t last much longer though?」
「Let’s just have it serve as a decoy then.」
「Yeah. At least before the reactor gets completely destroyed. Oh, it’s already reached its limit after all.」
「 It can’t even serve as a decoy. We’ll get sunk in three minutes.」
At that moment, their bodies suddenly shook.
Then, their bodies began to glow.
「This is…… complete link with the MCS?」
「Hey, it looks like we can activate this Spirit Link System now!」
「It seems it will improve the performance of the ship for a while. Let’s activate it!」
「Oh, an alert popped up? It says we’ll die once we activate it. But that already doesn’t matter in this situation, right?」
「Yeah!」
「We’ll protect Aimer-chan!」
「Protect!」
「Edge Swift corps! This escort ship will now head away from Astraea. We request assistance to shoot down all enemy aircraft converging on this ship! We plan on buying you enough time to do so!」
「Copy that, but what are you guys planning to do? Hey! Respond! Guys?!」
The hawk-type Familiar who responded noticed the two’s abnormality. The two’s bodies were glowing brighter and brighter.
The ship’s mobility quickly increased. Its laser cannons displayed a performance that exceeded their specifications and shot down the swarming Coulsons one after another.
The anti-air cruiser shined brightly as it fought. As if it was the final afterglow of dying flames.
「Chick-kun? Tuck-kun? What are you doing!? Hurry and escape!」
Aimer screamed. If they escaped by dropping their MCS on the sea, there was a high probability of them being saved. They had many allied submarines waiting underwater after all.
The air defense cruiser the two were piloting demonstrated unbelievable maneuverability and continuously shot down many enemy planes. It quickly moved away from Astraea.
Although it received a barrage of direct hits, its hull wasn’t damaged at all. It now displayed the same level of toughness as Astraea.
『An abnormal situation has occurred. The Whis output of the air defense cruiser has suddenly increased to the same level as an A-Carbuncle’s. Its mobility and overall performance have increased beyond normal parameters. Unable to analyze.』
「What’s happening!?」
It was an unbelievable situation that even Astraea was unable to analyze.
『Unknown. The source of the phenomenon is the Familiars– Curses! It’s Prometheus!』
Astraea vindictively spat. It was truly an unlikely situation.
「Tell me, Astraea. What exactly is happening?」
『Chick and Tuck have entered into perfect synchronization with their MCS, and that’s pushed their ship reactor’s performance to the limit.』
「But that’s–」
『Yes. The processing power of the Telema AI cores and their bodies will not be able to withstand such a burden. Their cores will completely get shorted out.』
「Is there no way to stop them?!」
『There’s none.』
As Aimer and Astraea discussed, the air defense cruiser continued to act as a decoy and struggled alone.
And, before long, it had completely ceased all activity.
The situation inside the cockpit of the MCS was projected on Astraea’s monitor.
Chick and Tuck were now completely immobile, just like lifeless dolls.
Their eyes were still open, but they will never move again.
That scene was displayed for only a few moments. Shortly after, an explosion went off.
The air defense cruiser’s hull twisted violently as its reactor got destroyed.
『Air defense cruiser, sinking confirmed. Data collection complete. It seems that the Spirit Link System has just been completely activated.』
「This is the first time I’ve heard of it……」
『It’s also my first time finding out about it. It can only be activated once a machine takes critical damage and is close to its operational limit. It synchronizes the processing capabilities of the Fennel OS and the Familiars and brings about the effects I mentioned earlier.』
「I don’t want it! Such an effect!」
Aimer screamed in frustration and sadness from the depths of her heart.
『It’s only natural for you to feel that way. –There’s also another condition for its activation. That’s the Familiar’s love for you. Their strong desire to protect you activates the Spirit Link System.』
「No……」
Aimer covered her face in despair.
Something like that was unbearable for her. She now regarded Prometheus as a terribly cruel god. She seriously considered him to be so.
「Astraea, instruct everyone to refrain from using Spirit Link. Tell them to never activate it from now on.」
『It’s useless. It’s not that kind of system. It will get triggered no matter what once the proper conditions are met.』
「Kuh……」
Aimer clenched her teeth.
『This is a gift from Prometheus. One of the flames that were handed over by him. We were aware that it had something to do with both Familiars and the MCS, but we didn’t anticipate it would have such an effect……』
Astraea and Asia had tried to analyze the gift from Prometheus before.
「It’s similar to the myth of Prometheus. Prometheus pitied humankind, so he deceived the gods and stole the fire on a fennel stalk from the god of blacksmiths. However, that very fire became the source of many conflicts. The Fennel OS was named after that fire burning on a fennel stalk. So, it’s only logical that it wouldn’t only bring advantages.」
Master told Aimer about the myth of Prometheus.
「Their strong feelings activated that function in their MCS. And since I was a Familiar myself, I understand their feelings all too well. Even I would want to protect you no matter what, even if it meant my soul will get completely erased.」
「But this…… Even Kou wouldn’t be happy about this……」
『Indeed. Prometheus had really installed a ridiculous flame within Fennel. The final afterglow that’s brought about by the Familiar’s feelings of wanting to protect those important to them. –Why didn’t you consider the ones who are being protected as well!?』
Astraea angrily denounced the actions of Prometheus.
As she did so, the remaining escort ships suddenly shined brightly one after another. Their Whis outputs rose up greatly.
They had also activated Spirit Link in order to protect Aimer.
The Familiars can be regenerated as long as their cores were collected. However, the Spirit Link System completely kills the core’s function itself. They will never meet those who have activated the system ever again.
「Everyone…… I’m sorry…… Thank you.」
For the first time, Aimer’s eyes had spilled tears.
「I’ve gotten everyone involved. This is the result of my foolishness. I can’t lose like this. Thank you. I won’t lose. I’ll protect everyone.」
Clenching her teeth, Aimer commanded the remaining Edge Swifts with the resolve to die.
All in order to hold out for even a second longer.
Well, that’s a big sad moment.
Thanks for the chapter! Awesome translation! May God bless you!