The Operation Starts Now! We will Flood the Enemy Ship with All the Panjandrums We’ve Got!
Jenny’s Tachycineta touched down on the deck of the Megareus.
Finally, they had a moment of respite, allowing her to transform her Silhouette into humanoid mode. She initiated communication with Barry.
「Aerial supremacy secured. At least around the Megareus.」
「Good work. You’ve done well.」
The enemies on the deck were nearly wiped out, and the remaining forces had temporarily retreated. While there was no time to be complacent, the operation was proceeding smoothly.
「The enemy should have had enough numbers, so why did they retreat?」
「That’s likely due to Kou’s stunt with that massive laser cannon. Rather than whittling down their forces, they’re probably regrouping to strike back in full force. Our aerial advantage will last at most a day, if that.」
「I agree. Our supply line is limited. Meanwhile, the enemy is continuously replenishing new troops and resources from another continent.」
The two analyzed the situation. The enemy had retreated to the fortress area after their giant aerial carrier was destroyed in a single blow. It seemed they were regrouping their forces for another assault.
As for the Megareus, it would likely hold out for another day or two, at most.
The strength of the Argoforce lay in their mass production capabilities using the resources of the other continents and the bases they had seized, along with the sheer number of troops they could mobilize. Once a person was captured by the Stones, unless they received specialized treatment, they were classified and managed, but every one of them was a potential pilot candidate.
The mercenary and Familia-reliant Metal Iris and the corporate forces of Ulysses simply couldn’t match the sheer mobilization scale of the Argoforce.
「It looks like we might also be able to destroy the armored elevator on the deck. Eirene and Fuyuki are up to something interesting.」
「I’m starting to pity our enemies. They’ll probably face another unjust and miserable end.」 Barry shrugged feeling a little apprehensive of what would happen next. Whenever Eirene got involved, something unimaginable was bound to happen.
「Even if we destroy the elevator, the enemy will just ambush us from the hangar below. What’s the plan?」
「That’ll definitely be the most intense battlefield.」
Unlike conventional aircraft carriers, space carriers had elevators that connected directly to the deck for simultaneous deployments. Since it was linked directly to the hangar, it was only natural to expect considerable enemy forces lying in wait.
「This is Fuyuki from the combat engineer squad. The operation on the canopy and deck elevator has been completed.」
「Storming from above seems impossible. How do you plan to pull it off?」
「It is not impossible. Eirene will re-enter the atmosphere using its ground anchors to land from high altitude. All units on the deck, please temporarily withdraw.」
「「……」」
Barry and Jenny remained silent. Neither wanted to imagine what chaos the self-propelled mine carrier, the Great Panjandrum Carrier, would cause next. The Metal Iris Silhouettes that had reached the deck of the Megareus were taking off one after another, descending back to the surface.
「We kept you waiting! We’ll be arriving shortly!」
「Indeed. I was starting to get tired of space, you can’t even enjoy a cup of tea in there.」
The duo behind it all sent Barry a transmission.
「So, what’s the next outrageous weapon? Another self-propelled mine?」
Barry asked, his tone reflecting a mix of resignation and weariness.
「Don’t worry. Eirene will drop the supply containers and immediately move toward the sea.」
Abel responded cheerfully with a reassuring smile.
「I see. Understood.」
Barry felt a slight sense of relief. After all, Kou had pulled out that massive laser cannon, something straight out of the Interplanetary War era. Barry had feared Eirene might be working on something even more ludicrous.
But if the weapon could fit inside a container, it was probably just another self-propelled mine—a mere Panjandrum.
「Huh? Wait a minute…」
Barry, sensing something was off tried to stop them, but even as the words left his mouth, Eirene was already descending. She fired her ground anchors, landing them with a loud crash right on the Megareus deck. The canopy above the hangar collapsed with a resounding noise as it came crashing down.
From the ship’s well dock, Eirene began dropping a massive number of containers—there had to be at least ten of them. Their shape was long and narrow, resembling the magazine of an automatic pistol.
「Eirene, what’s inside those things?」
Barry asked, his unease growing.
「I’m now the proud Great Self-Propelled Mine Carrier, The Great Panjandrum Carrier!」
Eirene declared, puffing out her chest proudly for some reason.
The container doors automatically opened. Out rolled massive four-meter Panjandrums, one after another, tumbling straight into the gaping hole left by the destroyed elevator.
「The operation starts now! We will flood the enemy ship with all the Panjandrums we’ve got!」
Abel announced, his smile as unchanging as ever. The group couldn’t help but feel a sense of madness behind that grin.
「They’re saw-blade shaped, you know? Bulkheads and walls inside the ship will get in the way, right? These Panjandrums are designed to keep rolling forward, cutting through everything with their saws. Of course, they’ll charge at the enemy and explode too. This circular-saw-shaped self-propelled mine is called the ‘Moon!’」
It was essentially a rocket-propelled twin circular saw mine. The main purpose of the internal bulkheads was fire protection. While the inside of the ship was reinforced by the whis produced by its A-Carbuncle as well, the internal bulkheads weren’t as strong as the external armor. These self-propelled mines were specialized for two objectives: destroying bulkheads and eliminating any enemies in hiding.
「Our own forces will be fine, right? The risk of friendly fire is not small in a closed environment.」
「We have the Merlin System. Rest assured.」
The Merlin System was mainly an IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system, it was designed primarily to ensure the Panjandrums wouldn’t attack friendly forces as long as they had the proper tags.
「There’s no way to reach the deck hangar from the infiltration route we opened on the side. We’ll just be watching from here.」
Fuyuki added not wanting to get involved in the chaos that soon would ensue.
The first of the containers, now emptied of its Panjandrums, sat discarded. There were still many more containers stacked, ready to release their deadly cargo into the ship. One by one, the Panjandrums poured into the Megareus, each rolling with destructive intent.
From a distance, Jenny hovered in midair, casting a look of pity toward the Megareus as it became engulfed in chaos.
The first explosion echoed only seconds later.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
It had been over an hour since the elevator hatches on both sides of the Megareus were destroyed to create an infiltration route and the beginning of the enemy assault on Astraea.
Then, Astraea received a communication from one of the enemy Silhouettes. The entire crew tensed as they recognized the name. It was Castor the leader of the Argoforce.
Everyone went on high alert.
Exchanging a glance with Aki, Aimer took the call without hesitation.
On the screen appeared a man clad in a cloak, seated inside an MCS. It was Castor, the man who had killed Yuzuki, and the supreme commander of Argoforce.
「Well, well. What an honor! to be able to speak with Admiral Aimer herself.」
「Why did you contact me, and not Supreme Commander Barry? I didn’t think a demigod such as yourself, one of the oh-so-great Hemitheos would debase himself to speak to a little girl like myself.」
「Look at this.」
Castor said, his tone shifting as he presented something on the screen. The scene shifted to Castor’s perspective from within his Corvus. In the foreground, a sword was pointed directly at another Silhouette—it was Takaba Hyoue’s Accipiter
「Hyoe-san!」
Aimer cried out in shock.
「If you want to save him accept my demands, don’t worry I’ll make it simple for you. I want to speak with your ace pilot, Mozuya Kou. He’s hiding among your ranks, posing as a civilian pilot, isn’t he? Just connect me to him, and this will all be over.」
Sweat trickled down Aimer’s forehead. Deep down, she wanted to reject his demand immediately.
「Understood. Please give me a moment.」
With Hyoe as a hostage, Aimer didn’t hesitate. If she didn’t comply, something even more tragic would undoubtedly occur.
The sound of an emergency call rang out inside Unit 5. It was the most critical, extreme-emergency alert sound. It came from Aimer, and Kou knew instantly that she wouldn’t contact him with such urgency even if her life were in danger, something was gravely wrong.
Kou quickly maneuvered away from the active battlefield to a safer area within friendly territory and answered the call.
「Aimer! What’s going on? Are you okay?!」
「Kou, listen. Castor, the enemy leader, has contacted us. Hyoe-san is being held hostage. Let me know when it’s safe to connect the call.」
「Hyoe-san has been taken hostage?」
The thought that Hyoe had been bested once again was hard for Kou to believe. He had always held Hyoe in such high regard, and the reality of his capture felt surreal.
Kou was grateful that Aimer had contacted him without hesitation. His current position was secure enough.
「Connect me immediately.」
「Understood.」
Aimer gave the order promptly and the connection was made. On the screen, Kou saw a man dressed in white robes. His cloak was pulled low, obscuring his face, revealing only his mouth.
「Nice to meet you, Knight of Asia, Mozuya Kou. I am Castor.」
Castor talked in a low, deliberately hushed voice, as though he were sharing a secret.
「I am Kou. Is Hyoe-san safe?」
「He’s safe. See for yourself.」
Castor replied, stepping aside to reveal the Accipiter. Its back reactor was destroyed, but otherwise, the Silhouette was unharmed.
It was clear this level of precision required an immense skill difference.
Who exactly was Castor? He had defeated Yuzuki and now completely overwhelmed even Hyoe.
「Kou-kun… Don’t come…」
Hyoe’s weak voice cut through the tension.
「Hyoe-san!」
「Ah, that’s enough. The backup power for Hyoe’s MCS is still active. He can monitor our conversation and see the surroundings, but that’s all.」
「What do you want?」
Kou asked, his voice firm. If Castor intended to brainwash Hyoe, like what the Stones had done with Jack, there’d be no need for this conversation. He could have just taken Hyoe and left.
「I’m here to propose a duel, Yuzuki and Hyoe were hardly satisfying opponents.」
A cheap provocation, Kou thought.
Even so, anger began to stir within him. But Kou knew better. This enemy was powerful—he had to remain calm and think clearly.
「It’s simple. If you win, Hyoe will be returned to you. If you don’t show up, I’ll just take him with me. So, what’s your choice?」
「I’ll come immediately. Where should I go?」
Kou’s response came without hesitation.
「Come alone, understood?」
「Of course.」
Kou replied without hesitation. Even if it meant entering enemy territory alone, he had no choice.
「Good. Then… come to these coordinates.」
A set of coordinates was transmitted to Kou’s map. When Kou saw the location, he was momentarily speechless. He knew the place immediately, and a sinking feeling settled in his chest.
Castor’s lips twisted into a mocking smile.
「It’s the perfect place to settle this, don’t you think?」
Though Kou still didn’t fully understand who Castor was, he now recognized him as a ruthless and calculating opponent—perhaps the worst kind. He knew without a doubt that Castor was someone he could not afford to underestimate.
The location had a deep, personal meaning for Kou. It was a place tied to his past, to his unresolved memories.
「No objections. I’m coming right now.」
Kou said, his voice steady, before the transmission cut off.
Unit 5 departed the battlefield. Out of sight from friendly forces, Kou deactivated his signal and made his way toward the coordinates.
「To think I’d return to that place again…」
Kou murmured, feeling a wave of emotion. Without hesitation, Unit 5 flew straight toward its destination—a place that held significance for Kou, the place where he met Master, and Unit 5, and the place where Asia first appeared before him.
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