Chapter 154
‘Hmm.’
I meticulously reviewed the recent records stored in the computer embedded in my walker. Brief reports on unidentified giant creatures, collection of nest debris within the spaceship, and registration of information after communication – the list goes on. The cyborg I detained managed to send quite a bit of communication in a short time.
‘Even if the signals didn’t reach the outside…’
Currently, psychic powers causing intermittent communication disruptions emanate from the body of Number 26. It’s nearly impossible for the information sent by the walker to reach the capital city Jax-01 of the StarUnion. Even if it somehow arrives, it would likely be severely damaged, rendering it unrecognizable.
‘The issue is not that.’
‘Supply line.’
Before that ship encountered me, it might have already registered information about me in the Starlink. The supply line, in fact, might have sensed my presence before arriving. There’s a high possibility that it reported to the StarUnion that it encountered me even before the ship arrived.
“This complicates things.”
The situation became troublesome. Even if I leave this place, the StarUnion’s tracking devices will pursue me. Escaping through faster-than-light travel is on hold. Elite fleets of powerful factions like the StarUnion, Cult, or MegaCorp possess systems to track faster-than-light travel. Depending on how much they consider me a threat, fleeing is impossible if an elite fleet is after me.
‘Changing the appearance of the ship won’t hide us.’
The ship dominating the horizon of nightmares exists between the realms of biology and metal. If the supply line identified my features as a ‘biological ship,’ changing its appearance won’t help – they would quickly recognize it.
“Hehehe, daring to touch a StarUnion ship. You’ll never escape peacefu…lly?!”
‘Quiet.’
Using corrosive tentacles, I silenced him and checked the cards I held.
‘It’s been a month since leaving the sanctuary. Most of the means at my disposal are usable.’
From controlling the nightmare horizon in space, organic evolution that can enlarge or shrink my body, long-range attack ability obtained as the irregular form of a marauder – the ‘Divine Scepter’ and the ability to transform my physique into a combat-ready form, ‘Symbol of Hunt.’ Currently, I am in a perfect state, lacking nothing to fight formidable enemies.
‘But a direct confrontation is still risky.’
The situation is different from when I fought the Imperial Battleship. The fact that the planet I was on was the politically complex ‘sanctuary’ played a crucial role.
If it weren’t for the sanctuary, escaping smoothly like this would have been impossible. Even if I managed to escape, I would have been chased by cultists.
However, the StarUnion faces no such constraints. In the StarUnion, ruled by the autocratic Machine Council, concepts like ‘politics,’ ‘competition,’ or ‘conflict’ do not exist. Formally, there may be opinions coordinated between the Council and various departments, but in reality, they hold little meaning. If the Council commands, all cyborgs must obey.
Except for the supreme dignity, the members of the Machine Council are all highly intelligent androids. If they perceive me as an enemy, they would spare no expense to kill me.
‘Androids don’t let their guard down, annoyingly.’
Surely, they would dispatch an elite fleet with high firepower to kill me at once.
‘Space warfare is still challenging.’
The majority of my physical characteristics are currently sealed, making it almost like fighting with a handicap. While there are “newly unlocked type-related traits” obtained by consuming the Supply Line, these traits are not useful in the current synchronized state with the ship.
I possess several attack abilities that can crush enemy ships, but they are also limited by time constraints and usage limits. It’s not as if I have an advantage in defense and evasion maneuvers.
When facing a small number of ships, I can overpower them, but it’s not easy to fight against a fleet consisting of hundreds of ships. The relatively better aspect is that this ship under my control has been modified. I attached weapons obtained by disassembling cult ships, so I won’t be helpless against a large number of enemies like last time.
‘The downside is that I do not have much time.’
This is the cult’s territory. If I fight here and get caught by the cult, I’ll undoubtedly be caught in a crossfire between both sides. In the eyes of the cult, I’m no different from a biotic ship, an Outsider’s flying monster.
‘Wait? The Cult?’
As soon as the thought of the cult crossed my mind, I paused. This JP-99 star system is the cult’s territory. Despite being a backwater with no significant resources, it’s a place they won’t tolerate others trespassing through their territory. If the elite fleet of the StarUnion, who invaded the star system, is discovered by the cult, a conflict between the two sides is inevitable.
‘I can escape during that time.’
The crucial point here is how to refer to the cult, and, coincidentally, I have a means to address them.
‘This is getting interesting.’
After organizing my thoughts, I planned how to escape this predicament. There are a few risky elements, but I decided to push through. This operation of deceiving the cult and cyborgs is something I excel at.
‘Let’s wrap up the plan here.’
Before explaining to the individuals on board the ship, there are things I need to take care of. I looked at the captured cyborg.
“Well, what is it?”
The cyborg meeting my gaze seemed to feel an uneasy premonition and trembled.
He is expected to play an important role on the stage I have set, not just as prey to replenish energy.
“It’s your turn after a long time.”
According to my will, small entities dormant in my body woke up. Small holes appeared in the ceiling of the fully integrated ship, and from them, something like thin and elongated rubbery tendrils fell onto the cyborg being held by the tentacles.
“Wait, what is this again… Stop it!”
Only then did the cyborg realize what he was about to experience and started glowing.
In order to assist the parasitic tendrils climbing up to fulfill their mission, the cyborg firmly held onto them.
“Hieekk…hiekkk!”
The cyborg resisted fiercely. No matter how much the body has been modified into a machine, there are limits. It is impossible to break free from the binding of the powerful corrosive tentacles that can warp the entire ship.
In the end, he will have to accept it once everything is over.
The harsh reality of becoming a minion of monsters.
The Nemea Fleet stationed in the ESS-22 star system received an urgent order. The order came from the head of the Nemea Fleet, Nemea Five, who also served as a senior member of the StarUnion’s Machine Council.
“As soon as you confirm the information, deploy to JP-99 to exterminate the new life forms that have appeared. It’s an extremely dangerous existence, so do not approach, but intercept and incinerate from a distance. This order is issued directly by Grand… ”
“Grandmaster Jubaka?!”
Acting Fleet Commander Sanadaeff, who had been delegated command authority from Nemea Five, was taken aback.
It is rare for the Machine Council to issue direct orders to individual cyborgs, as they usually only communicate important matters through announcements. Furthermore, the fact that the leader of the Machine Council and the highest dignitary, Grandmaster Jubaka, is interested is unprecedented. Since his transformation into a machine, this was the first time Sanadaeff nearly lost his composure.
“Eff, is this not a lie?”
[Machine Council and Grandmaster’s authentication marks confirmed. Zero percent chance of forgery.]
Sanadaeff scratched his chin, hearing the words from the ship’s computer, Eff.
“JP-99 is cult territory. Does the Machine Council want war?”
ESS-22 is unusually close to JP-99 among the StarUnion’s jurisdictional areas. The Nemea Fleet, the elite fleet of the StarUnion, is stationed here as a precaution.
‘Surely not?’
Sanadaeff rechecked the Machine Council’s order. There was no mention of invading the cult.
The Machine Council, being composed entirely of robots except for the Grandmaster, does not use metaphors or analogies. Perhaps his concerns were unfounded.
“What is the current force stationed there?”
“3 Menos-class battleships, 20 Cyan-class patrol ships.”
“It’s not that many, probably due to its remote location. No space fortresses or Imperial Battleships either.”
After looking at the data screen floated by Eff, he made up his mind. The plan was to quickly complete the mission before the cult could gather and then depart.
“But why is the Machine Council in a frenzy over some life form?”
About a month ago, there was an announcement issued to all ships.
If a new life form is discovered, register the data immediately with Starlink. Also, each ship is to implant a signal chip made by the Machine Council. These were the two directives.
At that time, he didn’t know why such an order was given.
“Is this creature so dangerous?”
[Confirmation of the data attached to the message from the council.]
“Send it to my head.”
Subsequently, biological data flowed into Sanadaeff’s mind, connected by the ship’s cables. Feeling a slight headache, he suppressed the pain and examined the information.
“Hmm. A giant monster with the ability to disguise itself as a battleship.”
[The model is estimated to be a Jamah-class escort ship, possibly Jamavil-02 mountain.]
“Jamah-class? The latest model escort ship, you mean? Hmm.”
His initial thought was that it could be a secret weapon of the cult, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Creating and controlling artificial life forms is something Megacorp would do.
“Or it might be an Outspacer.”
As far as he knew, the Outspacers didn’t look like that.
They are grotesque monsters adorned with numerous organic turrets that shoot biochemical substances. Anyone claiming they resemble Cult escort ships must surely have severely impaired vision or distorted aesthetic senses. However, if described as a spacecraft composed of bio-metal, the Outspacers would come to mind first. Perhaps these creatures are newly evolved space assault monsters created by them.
Sanadaeff carefully examined the information provided by the Machine Council. Surprisingly, the quantity of information was not as much as he thought. Instead, annotations and hypotheses added by the Machine Council occupied a much higher percentage.
“Seems like a formidable opponent.”
Having reviewed all the data, Sanadaeff contacted all the ships in the Nemea Fleet. He instructed them to prepare the directives issued by the Machine Council.
Two hours later, the entire Nemea Fleet of 101 ships entered preparations for faster-than-light travel. The intense blue light enveloped them to the extent that it could be seen even from the surface of a planet in the star system, and soon they left ESS-22 behind.
Thanks to faster-than-light travel, surpassing the speed of light, the Nemea Fleet led by Sanadaeff instantly reached JP-99.
[Faster-than-light travel complete. No lost ships confirmed.]
“Good. Let’s finish it before the cult notices. Release the reconnaissance drones and strike aircraft.”
[Confirmed.]
Drones and strike aircraft poured out from the StarUnion warships with rectangular-shaped hulls covered in spear-like elongated cannons. Because there were so many drones, it looked as if sand was pouring out of a burst sandbag.
“Search the surroundings carefully. Report immediately if you find anything suspicious.”
[Confirmed.]
Drones under the control of the ship’s computer and strike aircraft piloted by androids meticulously searched the space for floating debris, asteroid piles, and other objects.
Soon, some strike aircraft discovered artificially synthesized metal fragments and reported to Sanadaeff, who was aboard the Battleship.
He quickly recognized where the fragments came from and also the source of the information sent by the Machine Council.
“Eff, is the trace of faster-than-light travel confirmed?”
[None detected in this star system.]
“Good. Since it’s nearby, everyone be on guard….”
[Urgent report! Energy concentration detected ahead!]
“What?”
Before he could finish his sentence, the ship’s camera illuminated the front. In the empty space, blue energies converged, transforming into a massive structure in an instant.
“…Oh no.”
Every time the blue light flashed, Cult battleships, both large and small, revealed themselves one after another in front of the Nemea Fleet. Seeing this, Sanadaeff muttered softly.
“Ah, damn. We’re screwed.”
Ordinary Cult battleships wouldn’t be much of a problem. With the Nemea Fleet equipped with psychic defense measures, they could handle it.
The problem was the colossal structure firmly guarding behind those battleships.
[Message from the captain of ‘Judicator of Gormos 03.’ Urgently check.]
A diamond-shaped structure adorned in ivory with golden decorations, no, a ship. The colossal ship that appeared before the Nemea Fleet was the Cult’s pride,
The Imperial Battleship.
