Play Along, Captain? (3)
The Obelisk, assault destroyer, bridge.
“What is the current status of non-combat personnel relocation?”
“All personnel have been moved to their designated zones!”
I sat in the captain’s chair.
I did nothing.
This is complete heaven, isn’t it?
Is it really just going to stay like this?
“Yurivi, weapons control officer, perform the final inspection of the electronic warfare systems.”
“Yes, Deputy Commander Laura!”
They’re beating the drums and playing the gongs, all of them.
Keep going, I’ll watch.
Why don’t you just let Laura-noona take over as captain instead?
“How much time remains until the Chronos space jump?”
“Ready, Deputy Commander!”
“Deputy Commander! We need the exact coordinates for the space jump!”
But something… something is growing way too fast.
With just one word from me, the crew is moving at lightspeed.
I had imagined it roughly, but seeing it in person makes the scale feel overwhelming.
“Chain Stalker assault pod, deployment beginning!”
“Report! Final inspection of assault craft launch preparation in progress!”
Why is this destroyer so huge to begin with?
Destroyers floating on the sea back then weren’t like this.
Smaller than that Valkyrie, though.
So how do I even describe this?
Like pulling out a 63-story building and tying it together with steel cables?
What kind of nonsense is this? Anyway, it’s enormous.
“Chain Stalker storm pod, launch preparation complete!”
“Corps assault fighters, launches 01 through 60 ready!”
Chain Stalker storm pod?
Corps assault fighters?
What the hell is that, you bastard?
“Captain, may I ask one question?”
“Granted, Deputy Commander Laura.”
“How did you predict the Unknown’s attack?”
Uh, um… I was just trolling, honestly.
No guilt whatsoever—this thing is swelling up.
Do not harbor guilt. Only remember despair.
Death awaits where you desire.
“Yes. I see. You won’t tell me.”
Laura-noona stared at me quietly.
That gaze felt a little burdensome…?
Why… why… hah…! Ah!
Because Fact-sensei said so, right?
Look, there’s still a message floating right in front of me now?
Warning. Kill. Medical teams approaching. Recommended.
Kill. Do not kill. Restore order. Recommended.
Death awaits where you desire. Warning.
The messages feel a bit ominous, but so what.
Anyway, something is definitely coming.
And there was one more thing I saw earlier.
“Unfold the navigation map, Captain Laura.”
“Yes, Captain.”
A red fog on the navigation map.
Isn’t this a hostile indicator?
It screams danger from a mile away.
Did I really think this noona didn’t know how to read maps?
Even someone who saw it for the first time would know.
“You can’t see it?”
“…What?”
“That red fog.”
“Fog…? You mean? I see nothing…”
“Go wash your face.”
What kind of nonsense is this? Nothing visible?
This sharp-tongued noona has some vacant spots too.
“…Chloe, can you see it?”
“Well, I can’t see anything either.”
But if it’s not an enemy…
Isn’t that how you get rid of the incompetent?
Ah, so you’re giving them honorable discharge?
“Actually, that’s good.”
“…Captain?”
Wait a second, but do I really have to fight the aliens for real?
Don’t tell me I’m going to die? Suddenly I’m scared.
The sudden fear makes my heart race—
Needless. Needles. Needless.
Why do I suddenly feel so good?
No one rang the laughter bell, yet I can’t stop smiling.
“…Ha, Captain?”
Fear.
That emotion was never granted to the primordial terror.
That emotion is unnecessary for our purpose.
Needless. Remove it. Needless. Remove it.
“Hah, my answer is strange.”
Out of nowhere, a tiger-like aura surges.
If I fight now, I’ll definitely win. No, I will win.
That said, stop asking more questions. I don’t know either.
Just forget everything and lean back comfortably in the captain’s chair.
Hmm~ the softness feels so good.
“Hurry and prepare for launch.”
Laura-noona looked at me with strange eyes while cracking jokes.
Ugh, don’t look at me like that.
Smile. Smile. Smile brightly like me?
I’m not going to die, so don’t worry.
There’s no way there’s an enemy.
“Um, which fleet should we jump near?”
“……”
What? Which… fleet…?
Why can’t you just let Laura-noona handle it?
“…Captain?”
Damn, the intimidation skill isn’t working.
Does that mean I have to decide?
But how do I know which fleet is where?
Fact-sensei? Where should we jump to?
> Warning: Mana resonance instability. Medical consultation recommended.
Shit. Fact-sensei isn’t answering.
Then I cast the skill “Just Play Along.”
“……”
Let me see… who to choose?
I crossed my arms and rested my chin on my hand.
Scanning around, pink hair stood out.
“-Yurivi, weapons control officer.”
“Yes?! Yes! Captain!”
This isn’t a joke! That’s not the case at all!
Sorry, just blame your own hair color!
“If it were you, where would you jump to?”
“…Y-yes?!”
Hahaha.
Yes? Yes yes yes?
Are you spacing out again?
“I am not a parrot.”
If you keep acting like this, who’s going to help?
You should just play along, huh?
“My mouth has to ask the question for me to snap out of it?”
“S-sorry! Roskva-class cruiser!”
“Good. Jump to that location.”
“H-Captain?!”
What is this reaction from Laura-noona?
Is this pink-haired loser really it?
Did she make a serious misjudgment?
“Captain? Really jumping to Roskva?”
“Is there a problem, Deputy Commander Laura?”
“N-no… Roskva is…”
“I will not say it twice. Execute the jump.”
If there’s no problem, it’s fine.
Hurry up and leave. Fact-sensei is urging me.
“Chloe, request approval from Roskva.”
“…Understood, Laura.”
Just a few words and I’m already tired. I need healing.
Should I call that cat girl again?
Just looking at her strangely might calm me down…
The pleasant feeling of worries disappearing from my heart-
“Captain? Communication request from Roskva-class cruiser.”
“Connect it.”
> Really shameless, Captain Elia.
…What? Who is this? Why is she arguing?
Her face is all twisted. Is she sick?
Fact-sensei? Who is this person?
> Roskva-class cruiser / Captain / Anne Isabelle / Colonel
Colonel? I thought she was angry because she recognized me, but…
Do you not use honorifics for the same rank when addressing other ships?
Did she eat the concept of rank?
Shall we settle this?
> How dare you request a space jump near my ship?
“Is there a problem, Captain Isabelle?”
> Hah! Is there a problem? Are you out of your mind right now?
Hah? Look at this sharp-tongued woman raising her eyebrows.
Should I strangle her to death?
And are you out of your mind?
Of course I’m sane.
“As you can see, I am perfectly sane.”
> You’re telling me to forget that day’s events?
That day’s events…?
Was there really something?
But it’s none of my business.
“That day’s events…? What nonsense are you talking?”
> What?! Are you insulting me right now?!
“Colonel Isabelle, the captain is currently recovering-”
“-Shut up, Deputy Commander Laura.”
“Captain!”
“I will not say it twice. Shut up.”
Where are you butting into the adults’ conversation?
Wait and watch her make a fool of herself.
“So, Captain Isabelle. Are you trying to block my path right now?”
> My orders were not given! I have the right to refuse!
I don’t know what happened, but
Right now, my mood is very bad.
Words spoken in kindness should match the return.
You’re going to fight the enemy, yet your allies are blocking the way.
“How amusing, you lazy maggots.”
> What?! I’ve said everything-
“Anne Isabelle, Colonel.”
Blocking the preemptive launch of an assault destroyer on a cruiser.
If this were the navy, you’d be court-martialed. You know that?
Without your destroyers, you can’t do anything.
Listen up. I’ll show you what destroyers do.
“I don’t have time to deal with your stupid emotional tantrums. Are you a soldier sent to destroy the Unknowns, or a noblewoman sent to have a petty argument? The enemies are advancing on us right now, and I am simply carrying out my duty. If you want to talk, talk all you want—I don’t care. But remember that every second you open your mouth and spew nonsense increases the casualties in the battle ahead. Every time this happens, I can only think how truly remarkable it is. At best, these lazy pig bastards who only scatter torpedoes into the narrow corridor our destroyers have fought to create at the very end of the battle are acting like this.”
Do you understand, you fucking woman?
Her face is turning red. Hahaha.
This is Fact’s brutal truth.
“The battle is about to begin. If you understand my words with that tiny brain of yours, shut your mouth and open the path. Before my Nautilus Cannon reaches the spot where you are sitting.”
> …Watch and see. I will never let this slide.
The large screen hanging from the ceiling suddenly went black.
Hah, among those who say “watch and see,” there are no scary ones.
Do you know who’s behind me?! Huh?! I’m the one talking!
I even took a nap in the lounge…! Ugh!
By the way, why did it all happen so suddenly? What are they doing?
“What are all of you doing?”
The bridge that had gone silent with my words erupted again.
“Deputy Commander Laura, approval received from Roskva!”
“Chronos space jump, activating!”
They should have approved it sooner.
How nice that we’re not in a bad mood with each other?
> Notification. Chronos space jump activated.
> Anti-air defense squadron, assemble at airlock on deck 1.
> 22nd Mobile Unit, prepare to repel enemy landing forces.
“Captain, launch order.”
“Obelisk, launch.”
“Understood. Obelisk, launch!”
“Obelisk, launching!”
> Captain’s command. Battle alert issued.
> Again, notification. Captain’s command. Battle, battle, battle.
> All commands are now being broadcast in completed form.
The siren blared across the entire bridge with a loud ding-dong.
The entire ship trembled with the tremendous noise.
Oh shit. Is this the slipspace thing?
> All crew, arm and stand by.
> All crew, maintain combat readiness.
> All crew, fight with your lives.
“Ah, and Deputy Commander Laura.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Call Cecile, acoustic detection officer, to the bridge.”
Call that cat girl again.
Heal me a bit.
