Chapter 22 - Battle with the Super-Massive Fortress and the Envoy from the Free Democratic Alliance
~En route to the space around the Fourth Planet of the Gialpha Star System (Capital Planet of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire) (Three days into a four-day voyage have elapsed)~
Sangou was navigating at full speed toward the capital planet of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire.
Then, when about eighty percent of the voyage had been completed, an encrypted video recording intended for Sangou was received from Laura.
It indeed contained information sufficient for the Emperor to summon Jin and Sangou to the Imperial Capital.
The only two existing routes connecting the Empire and the Alliance.
Near the Empire-side entrances of these two routes, one super-massive fortress each, which the Gialpha Galaxy Free Democratic Alliance had gone to great lengths to transport, was now firmly stationed.
Around those super-massive fortresses, there were no surviving Imperial Military vessels.
Because the difference in effective range was too great; any Imperial vessels that attempted to attack were wiped out.
The video recording Sangou received showed only the countless debris resulting from their destruction.
Such debris drifted as remnants of what must have been a one-sided battle.
"Hey, isn't there any way to deal with that thing?!"
"The effective range is completely different. So, neither the battleships nor the mobile fortresses under the Imperial Military can even approach that thing, let alone attack it."
One of the operations staff answered the Imperial Military Commander's near-shouted question.
However, none of the other notable Imperial Military generals could come up with a good plan in response to the Commander's question.
They had no choice but to remain silent with bitter expressions.
In the video recording, Laura calmly explained the above internal situation of the Imperial Military, and including the question, 'Wouldn't the firepower of Sangou, which can execute Plan Z, be able to eliminate it?', she requested Jin and Sangou to formulate a useful operation plan and participate in the battle.
Incidentally, the encryption strength of the video recording that Laura encrypted and broadcast as wide-area communication addressed to Sangou was extremely high.
If Sangou had not noticed that three books Laura had read with Silk at the Asada Viscount residence she had visited were the decryption keys 'with zero hints', even Sangou would have found it difficult to decipher.
But if asked, 'Is that important?', it might not have much impact on the main story.
Because even from Laura's side who sent the video recording, it was merely something she considered, 'If they can decrypt it, time efficiency improves and we're lucky. If they can't, well, that's too bad.'
"Captain. That concludes the contents of the communication from Laura-san. What will you do?"
"'What will you do?' There's nothing else to say. For now, all I can say is, 'No matter how I think about it, it looks like we're going to get a tall order once we reach the Imperial Capital.'"
Jin, who answered Sangou's question, already had a gloomy expression on his face.
"That is certainly true. Now, from the video, the estimated size of the enemy fortress is approximately six hundred kilometers in diameter. It likely houses a fleet equivalent to or larger than one corps by Imperial Military standards within. It has ultra-high-output, ultra-long-range cannons matching the fortress's size, and the basic tactic is long-range attacks from outside effective range. For the parts requiring mobility, it is predicted the fleet will handle them."
"The fact that they built and deployed two of these things shows the Alliance is serious, huh."
It was not something necessary unless they were coming to win the war.
Given the scale of the thing, it is not hard to imagine that enormous amounts of money, materials, and people were invested, more than maintaining multiple fleets.
Even Jin, who is not very clever, could easily imagine that if the Alliance were to win the war against the Empire with this, the two fortresses would henceforth become money pits that only incur maintenance costs and are largely useless.
That alone was enough for Jin to sense the seriousness of the Alliance that built such things.
"Probably. However, it could also be considered a 'desperate measure to buy time.'"
"Is that so? (Buying time. Wouldn't deploying super-massive fortresses, which seem built with full intent to win the war, be the path to certain victory for the Alliance?)"
Jin refrained from mentioning the part of his thinking that Sangou would probably deny immediately.
"Given the level of science and technology in the Gialpha Galaxy, it is impossible to move a fortress of this size at high speed. And the fact that they show no sign of advancing deeper into Imperial territory from their current position proves that."
"No, but still. They didn't build that thing in that spot, right? Then, shouldn't they be able to move it?"
"They probably can move it. However, they likely cannot even reach the speed of a slow warship."
"(Ah. Moving this thing alone seems like a huge hassle. Changing direction even slightly looks like a major ordeal.)"
From Sangou's manner of speaking, Jin vaguely grasped the sluggishness of the super-massive fortress.
And that was not wrong.
"I see. So, what about 'buying time'?"
"From the Alliance's perspective, their rear, which was defenseless, was attacked. They must restore rear area functions and bolster defenses. They will have to deploy mobile fleet forces as needed from now on."
"Yeah, that figures. The Alliance would normally think, 'The Empire might try the same thing again.'"
The original flanking invasion operation had anticipated such ripple effects afterward.
That alone allowed even Jin to quickly understand Sangou's explanation.
Because once you suffer a surprise attack, you must restructure your strategy assuming it could happen again.
"Yes. And about that. If there had been a fleet deployable there from the start, it would have been sent to the front lines."
"Ah. So they used the fortress positioned at the front line to hold back the Imperial forces, and diverted the fleet that would have been needed there to the rear. That's why it's 'buying time.' Got it."
"The Alliance probably hasn't given up on winning the war yet. Now that they are at a disadvantage, it's time to conserve strength. They likely placed the fortress as a bridgehead with that intention."
"I see. Hey, Sangou. If that's the case, couldn't we just leave those 'super-massive fortresses' alone?"
If the Alliance currently has no intention of invading deep into Imperial territory, then the Empire, which doesn't really want war, has no need to pick a fight.
At least, that was how Jin saw it.
"Yes. It seems 'freely moving and attacking inside the Empire' is impossible for these fortresses. Also, since there is information that 'supply ships are coming and going from the rear,' they are unlikely to move to a place where supplies cannot be secured. In other words, under the current situation, they are harmless if you don't approach. Therefore, one option would be to surround them at a distance outside their range and leave them be. Of course, 'for now.'"
Even the information about 'supply ship traffic' that Sangou mentioned was valuable data transmitted at the last moment just before destruction by Imperial vessels that attempted to approach the fortress and were destroyed, but such facts were irrelevant to Sangou, who was merely analyzing the situation.
Nevertheless, the very existence of such information was proof that the Imperial Military was making every effort within its capabilities.
"Well, yeah. In the future, they might use this fortress as a bridgehead to attack with recovered forces. But that would still take several years, wouldn't it?"
The military strategy knowledge forcibly learned during the Louvre Empire era.
The otaku knowledge from his time in Japan as Asada Jin.
These two things were useful, enabling Jin to make plausible guesses.
"Yes. That would be the case if the Alliance secures defensive forces for their own territory first, then recovers the forces they can allocate to offense before attacking. However, in a situation like the present, in the history of the Deltania Army that Sangou knows, there are cases where they launch an all-out attack without waiting long."
"What's that? Why would they do that? (Could something so ridiculous really happen?)"
Completely unable to understand, Jin asked Sangou frankly.
"Cases like, 'It's territory that's going to be ravaged anyway, so rather than rebuild, let's take it from the enemy.' Or alternatively, 'We can annihilate the enemy first. Rebuilding can come later.' They just give up and go that way. Sangou has no basis to assert that 'the current Alliance will not choose that option.'"
"I see. That means the use of an unexplored route in the previous operation could have a negative influence. If they think, 'We don't know where we'll be attacked from,' they might very well 'bet on a desperate attack rather than defense.'"
At this point, Jin finally understood Sangou's explanation.
However, he had not yet arrived at an answer to the inevitable question, 'So, what should we do?'
Sangou sensed that from the captain's expression.
Because the excellent organic AI-equipped bio-spaceship could sense it, it offered the simplest solution.
"Captain goes on a solo suicide charge"
Of course, Jin was not one to let Sangou finish that line.
In this area too, their rhythm was almost as if by unspoken agreement, fitting together far too well.
The compatibility between the two might indeed be outstanding.
"Hey, wait! Don't say that! I'm not asking for that kind of thing, you know? This time I'm seriously scared it might actually happen, so cut it out."
Jin immediately pleaded with Sangou who was about to continue.
Thus, the time just for Sangou and Jin, bantering back and forth with 'not this, not that' for the first time in a while, continued.
Before arriving at the Imperial Capital, the two of them were thus engrossed in discussion about the super-massive fortress the Alliance had deployed.
Sangou completed the four-day voyage during which nothing else happened except receiving the video recording from Laura.
The bio-spaceship took up position in the satellite orbit of the fourth planet of the Gialpha Star System, maintaining a state where it only waited for the return of Captain Jin, who had been sent down in a twenty-meter-class sub-unit.
However, on the left chest of Jin's clothing, a badge-like sub-unit designed to resemble Sangou was firmly attached as if sewn on.
This allowed Sangou to keep track of the captain's situation in detail even while in orbit.
Jin landed on the ground in the twenty-meter-class sub-unit and went straight to the palace.
Since he had landed in the inner garden of the rear palace this time as well, walking from there did not take much time.
Having arrived at the palace in this manner, Jin was informed to wait until His Majesty the Emperor's schedule was adjusted.
Therefore, he ended up leisurely waiting in the waiting room.
Then, a lady-in-waiting assigned to Laura came to call Jin, giving the situation some momentum.
"Before the Emperor can find time, I want to talk to Jin first about some things and also hear what Jin has to say."
The content of Laura's request conveyed by the lady-in-waiting was something like that.
From Jin's perspective, this was not something he would refuse.
Consequently, the situation shifted to a preliminary discussion meeting between Jin and Laura before meeting the Emperor who had summoned him.
"You didn't bring Silk, did you? You must have known that Sangou would end up going to the battlefield. But if you did bring her, bring her down to the ground immediately. We cannot send Silk to the battlefield."
First words out of her mouth.
Skipping even aristocratic greetings, what came out of Laura's mouth was the name Silk.
That this situation could occur was perhaps evidence that a certain degree of casual relationship was being built between Jin and Laura.
Also, in response to Laura, Jin answered without greetings.
"Yes, that point is fine. Regardless of the battlefield, she has finished giving birth and"
Mid-sentence, Jin sensed an intense pressure emanating from Laura, whose expression had shifted to something extremely fierce.
Jin's words stopped.
They stopped, but.
"Why didn't you bring Silk? 'Giving birth'? If Silk was to bear a child, shouldn't it have been here in the Imperial Capital, with me, rather than on the main planet of the Betasia Star System?"
A woman like a demoness incarnate had descended before Jin's eyes.
Since she was a possessor of beauty befitting an Imperial Consort, having her furious expression directed at him was quite terrifying for Jin.
The cowardly Hero with low skills in dealing with women felt fear just from that.
"(Her opinion has completely changed from earlier, though.)"
His unspoken true feelings aside.
It goes without saying that from here on, Jin received a thorough scolding.
Though it was unreasonable, Jin could somewhat understand Laura's feelings.
If an apology could calm things down, Jin was willing to make that concession.
Of course, he would never say that there was 'no element of 'wanting to simply apologize because he was scared.'
"I am sorry for not bringing Silk. But there should be no time to go back and get her again, right? More importantly, were I and Sangou summoned to be sent to the battlefield after all?"
"No. Not immediately, 'do something about it.' Of course not. However, the Empire naturally cannot just 'leave things as they are.' There is such a thing as 'Imperial pride.' First, it will probably start with 'Do you have any good ideas?', but in the end, I feel it will be left to you and Sangou."
"(So, the Imperial Military has no options! Do your best, Imperial Military! Don't give up, Imperial Military! You can do it. You guys can do it! So please! Don't create a situation where the buck gets passed to me and Sangou!)"
Upon hearing Laura's words, Jin muttered such things in his heart.
Of course, it was only filled with the wishful hope that 'it would be like that.'
Well, Jin himself knew it was 'nothing more than an unlikely wish,' so what he said to Laura was realistic.
"During the outbound voyage, I discussed it with Sangou, but honestly, we didn't come up with any 'good ideas.' We did come up with one plan, albeit one with questionable effectiveness and feasibility: 'a plan for a full-scale deployment of Imperial Military vessels.'"
"I wonder if it's appropriate for me to know this before His Majesty the Emperor. But well, let's hear the details of that plan here for now."
"Yes. Then. The operation plan itself is simple. All vessels will tow asteroid-like rock masses, accelerate, and then launch them as a long-range saturation attack. Effectiveness is unknown due to factors like hit accuracy, the fortress's interception capability, and damage reduction by the fortress's own defense. Also, there is the problem of 'whether the Imperial Military vessels can even perform such a maneuver properly,' making the plan's feasibility questionable."
"I see. That kind of plan. It's not impossible, but no one could determine in advance that it would 'definitely be effective.' In other words, it's a 'we won't know until we try' situation."
"Yes. However, even from a cost-effectiveness perspective, Sangou's judgment was that 'the effect being unknown relative to the mobilized forces is too problematic.' (According to Sangou's calculations, 'the Imperial Military cannot expect hit accuracy from acceleration, and there is a high possibility it won't become a saturation attack.')"
Jin, of course, could not say the last part.
At this stage of their discussion, a message arrived saying, 'His Majesty the Emperor's schedule has been adjusted,' and Jin moved rooms together with Laura.
A discussion in a private setting involving His Majesty the Emperor.
Jin had thought he would be 'asked to present a plan in a public setting.'
Hence, he was first surprised by that point.
Well, that aside, Jin was asked by His Majesty the Emperor for an operation plan against the super-massive fortress, just as he had expected.
There, Jin presented once again what he had just explained to Laura as the 'current plan.'
For the time being, it was decided that 'the Imperial Military will examine it immediately,' and Laura once left the room to deliver a letter with the Emperor's note to the Prime Minister.
Laura did not choose to entrust this to a lady-in-waiting or anyone else.
Of course, the discussion between Jin and the Emperor continued during that time.
"Regarding the 'Plan Z' submitted earlier, I was thinking of using that method to eliminate this fortress. However, I would prefer not to do that if possible. And, well. The Imperial Military HQ Operations Room came up with a development and production plan for an ultra-long-range cannon and an energy supply generator. Building it from now on would be completely out of the question time-wise. But, if 'Plan Z is possible, would it be feasible to have Sangou handle only the cannon part?' That is what we two think."
With the mention of Plan Z, which could not be disclosed to others, Jin realized why the Emperor had 'sought a discussion with Jin in a private setting.'
And that plan, which was likely devised by just the Emperor and Laura together.
It might currently be possible only for Sangou.
However, it had the advantage that, given enough money and time, even the Empire's current technology could achieve something similar.
If so, neither Jin nor Sangou had the option to refuse cooperation.
Therefore, Jin chose his words carefully and conveyed his affirmative intention.
"I see. That is probably possible. Of course, the final decision will be after discussing it with Sangou. So the Imperial Military handles the energy procurement part, and Sangou uses that to fire. Even though it temporarily relies on Sangou, if it is something the Imperial Military itself can achieve in the future, there seem to be few problems."
"It's possible! Then begin discussions with Sangou along those lines. I expect a favorable reply."
After such discussions took place in the Imperial Capital, Jin promptly returned to Sangou's interior.
However, in reality, at this stage, Sangou had already grasped the content Jin learned via the sub-unit.
Thus, the conversation proceeded quickly.
"Captain. 'Whether it is possible or not' depends on the Imperial Military's efforts. Of course, converging the supplied energy and performing accurate bombardment from an ultra-long distance that would seem unbelievable to the Imperial Military or the Alliance is a level equivalent to child's play for Sangou."
Jin, having a grasp of Sangou's performance, knew this was nothing but the truth.
Although the method and source of energy supply must be determined, if the energy supply is sufficient, one-sided attacks from outside the super-massive fortress's range are possible.
That was the conclusion Sangou reached.
And once Sangou gave the 'feasible' conclusion, then.
From there, the Emperor's authority came into play.
First, the Emperor directly informed the Imperial Military HQ Operations Room of the outline of the operation to capture the super-massive fortress.
At that point, all plans being independently considered within the Imperial Military were 'put on hold.'
With this progression of events, the Imperial Military HQ Operations Room began to move.
The operation plan treating Sangou as a cannon was drafted at the fastest possible speed.
Thus, a grand operation gathering an unprecedented number of Imperial Military vessels in one space zone was formulated and immediately put into action.
A situation was established where as many as forty corps, eight million vessels, and eighty mobile fortresses were densely gathered in one space zone.
Despite forming a dense formation for connection via energy supply cables, they were orderly without disturbing the formation at all, not even causing a minor contact accident.
The level of training of the Imperial Military at this point was worthy of praise from Sangou, who was observing the movements of the vessels one by one.
Setting aside the quality of the vessels in terms of performance from Sangou's perspective.
The level of command discipline as a military was definitely high, not at all inferior to that of the Deltania Star System known to Sangou.
Perhaps, even if there is a large gap in scientific technology in the environmental setting, the people inside might not change dramatically in proportion to that gap.
At any rate, the Imperial Military steadily proceeded with preparations to execute the formulated operation.
Then, all assembled vessels switched to emergency reserve energy, concentrating all normal energy onto Sangou.
The situation moved to the next stage.
While the Imperial Military was moving so grandly.
What was the Alliance's movement, one wonders?
In reality, the super-massive fortress side had indeed detected the military movement of the Imperial vessels gathering.
However, well.
Since the action was completely outside the super-massive fortress's range, the Alliance did nothing.
No, perhaps 'could do nothing' is more accurate.
Though, they had absolutely no intention of doing anything anyway.
"(No matter how many weak vessels gather, they can't do anything anyway, right?)"
The super-massive fortress's supreme commander was also watching with the mindset of 'being overly confident about that.'
Of course, once Jin and Sangou were directly involved, reality did not turn out as that commander thought.
"All vessels and all mobile fortresses have completed connection. There is no delay at all relative to the scheduled completion time."
The flagship of the assembled Imperial Military.
The operator stationed there was reporting the situation to the Commander-in-Chief.
"Good! Begin energy supply to all vessels and all mobile fortresses! Let the Alliance bastards know the power of the Imperial Military!"
The Imperial Military Commander-in-Chief was roaring on the general flagship in this space zone, which could be called the 'front line.'
"Captain. Energy supply has begun. Starting convergence. Three hundred seconds remaining until supply ends. Beginning launch countdown via wide-area communication. Additionally, the launch will be ten seconds after supply ends. Is a ceremonial launch trigger necessary?"
"No, no. We don't need that kind of thing. I'll leave all aiming and firing to Sangou."
"Is that so? It was a common occurrence in the Deltania Army. They said the target scope and launch trigger were 'for the romance of it.'"
Of course, that was ceremonial; even in the Deltania Army, actual aiming was left to the AI, and the soldier merely pulled the trigger at the AI's timing command.
That act likely had no significance beyond ceremony and romance.
"R-really? Well, if you ask 'doesn't it appeal to the otaku heart?', I can't deny it at all (but if you're going to be that particular about it, then add 'flash protection' or 'shock protection' too!)"
Jin muttered the latter half of his true feelings only in his heart.
"(Probably no otaku who could blame me for this exists.)"
The former Hero from Japan judged himself objectively in that regard.
Well, leaving such talk aside.
The countdown by Sangou proceeded smoothly, and finally the time to fire arrived.
"Firing."
"Yeah!"
It was the moment an ultra-thick beam-like Energy Convergence Cannon shot, the Imperial Military's full-powered strike, was fired by Sangou.
"Hit. Confirmed a penetration hole in the target's central section. No error between the hit location and Sangou's aim point. Cooling of each vessel acting as energy source has begun. Time until next possible firing: six hundred seconds remaining."
"Oh, splendid. But it can't end with just one shot, can it?"
"No. The target is already silent. I precisely struck places considered definite vital points. The next shot will be to strike secondary points just to be sure."
"(Sangou, who goes to ensure the kill, leaves no room for complacency.)"
Jin could only admire Sangou's stance toward the enemy.
"Captain. Numerous vessels are launching from the target's bottom. However, they are not heading toward us. It seems to be a retreat. Shall we make the retreating vessels the target of the next attack?"
"Ah. Unless ordered by the Commander-in-Chief, wouldn't it be fine to let them go? Going too far is not good."
"Yes. Then, we will do that."
The Imperial Military did not know the accuracy of Sangou's shooting ability.
Based on their own common sense, they had intended to fire multiple shots, perhaps even dozens, to destroy the super-massive fortress in this operation.
Therefore, targeting was entrusted to Jin, effectively to Sangou.
That is why the above conversation between Sangou and Jin was possible.
And at this time, there was something neither Jin nor Sangou noticed.
In reality, observing the retreat of the Alliance vessels from the Imperial flagship was extremely difficult due to distance.
Consequently, the Commander-in-Chief never learned of the Alliance vessels' retreat.
The Commander-in-Chief never knew, and no attack order was given.
That fact would casually lead to the end of the long-standing war between the Alliance and the Empire, but no one knew that at this point.
Well, leaving that future-including story aside.
The second bombardment by Sangou was carried out calmly.
The super-massive fortress remained silent even after receiving two strikes that, from the Imperial Military's perspective, seemed like 'heavy blows.'
The Imperial Military Commander-in-Chief, suspicious of the lack of counterattack, personally issued a call for surrender to the super-massive fortress on an open channel.
However, there was, as expected, no response at all from the super-massive fortress.
The Imperial Military reluctantly sent out a scout vessel and nervously approached the silently unmoving super-massive fortress.
Even so, the scout vessel was not attacked.
In fact, at this stage, the super-massive fortress had already transferred all remaining personnel to the stationed fleet and had evacuated.
After such developments, the wreckage of the super-massive fortress, whose core parts were completely destroyed, came to be occupied by the Imperial Military.
"Although repairs will be extremely costly, reuse is possible."
That judgment was made after the occupation, and the super-massive fortress was secured by Imperial Military personnel.
With this and that and various things, Jin and the others left only a small surveillance unit on the destroyed super-massive fortress and set off toward the next target, the other super-massive fortress.
Even if Sangou alone could cover the distance in less than three days at full speed, traveling together with the Imperial forces to capture the super-massive fortress meant it was not that simple.
Still, by spending a substantial amount of travel time, they were able to arrive at the target space zone properly.
From there, they spent more time and began preparations for the attack on the super-massive fortress.
However, just before all preparations were complete, an unexpected order arrived from the Imperial Capital.
A new command from the Emperor of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire was conveyed to the super-massive fortress capture force.
It was an order to halt the attack.
Why was such an order issued?
The reason was that an envoy from the Gialpha Galaxy Free Democratic Alliance, seeking negotiations for a ceasefire, had visited the capital planet of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire.
With this turn of events, Jin and the others were to face a new phase.
Thus, the Hero Jin and Sangou, by order of His Majesty the Emperor, rushed to the Imperial Capital in the shortest possible time and succeeded in submitting an operation plan that was not particularly safe and whose success was uncertain.
Of course, it was not adopted; instead, they received a counterproposal to repurpose the previously submitted Plan Z.
In the preliminary stages of that discussion, Laura's anger over Silk's pregnancy was a trivial matter.
The received proposal was refined by Sangou, and the attack, realized through the collaboration between the Imperial Military and Sangou, succeeded in destroying and silencing one of the Alliance's trump cards, the super-massive fortress.
As a result, the Imperial Capital of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire was faced with the visit of an urgent envoy from the Alliance.
How will this unexpected new development relate to the future of Jin and Sangou?
No one knows the future.
The attack on the super-massive fortress this time had only scenes for Sangou alone, and the brave Hero simply watched from the bridge.
Even so, the results Sangou achieved would be attributed to Captain Jin, so in the likely future commendation ceremony, Jin was in a situation where he would inevitably feel conflicted.