Chapter 289
Chapter 289
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 289
Chapter Title: Moving (2)
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The Gigacracker, a 2km-wide spherical mining ship, was massive enough to rank among Mega Corp's top five.
It wasn't just big—its structure differed greatly from typical spacecraft. There were scarcely any facilities for the crew. Inside, most of the space was taken up by ion cannon operations or storage holds for mined minerals.
With so many facilities to manage relative to the number of personnel, about 80% of the ship was handled by automated machinery. The crew's role was to control these machines, maintaining and repairing them.
In truth, it was less a spaceship and more a drifting automated factory in space.
Given the vast facilities each person had to oversee, the crew required extensive expertise. That was why Noble Capital's Saintkey tightly controlled the Gigacracker's personnel.
They weren't quite Noble Capital or Prime Capital elites, but they had received comparable training.
The ship's managers were making their way through the restricted residential zones.
In the pitch-black corridor shrouded in darkness, hulking figures moved briskly. They all wore advanced reinforced suits blending exoskeletons and spacesuits, clutching plasma rifles in both hands.
The plasma rifle, developed as Earth Defense Force standard issue before the pistol's debut, was the lightest plasma weapon available. Though its firepower fell short of the plasma bolter, it excelled in safety and weight.
The sleek silver body featured a glowing green translucent energy gauge that pierced the corridor's gloom like a beacon.
"Is FTL navigation still impossible?"
The lead figure among the heavily armed group spoke up. Gigacracker Captain Tyron Saintkey's question prompted the team leader to check his wrist computer pad before replying.
"Yes. Unidentified electrical signals from outside are blocking remote control."
"So we have no choice but to go on foot."
Ambushed in the conference room, they had grabbed gear from the emergency armory and headed for the engine room.
Communications had gone dead after the pre-collision emergency broadcast. Remote control between facilities was impossible, as they had seen.
This was a crisis unlike any they'd faced while operating the Gigacracker.
"What do you think is causing this? Magnetic storm?"
"The symptoms are similar, but the range is too small. The path is unnatural, and the origin point imprecise."
"It could be a Metallic Gremlin swarm—something's messing with the electronics."
"Doubtful. Metallic Gremlins lack the power to shake a 2km ship."
As they moved, the team leaders shared theories based on their expertise.
"Could it be Outspacers? Some of the bigger ones are cruiser-sized, right?"
"Come to think of it, there are rumors of a major offensive brewing on the Imperial side. Maybe an Outspacer swarm has come here..."
"Probably not."
The team leaders speculated about Outspacers, but Tyron shot it down immediately.
"Outspacers can't do FTL like standard warships."
"Is that so?"
"They contaminate a planet first, then create special devices that enable hyperspace jumps between systems. Without those, they can't move."
"The captain has a point. Historical records of major offensives say they poured out from contaminated colonies."
Crew below Noble Capital and Prime Capital rank had restricted access to Mega Corp databases, leading to knowledge gaps like this.
For instance, the Outspacers' unique travel method, the 'Bio Portal,' was classified due to its ties to their biology.
Captain Tyron, a Saintkey of Noble Capital, knew far more than the team leaders present.
"Navigation Team Leader, when was our last contact with nearby system bases?"
"Two hours ago."
"Routine check-ins are every three hours. In one more hour, they'll know something's wrong with the Gigacracker. Everyone, stay hopeful."
Tyron deliberately reminded them of facts any team leader should know—to instill hope that rescue would arrive in an hour.
'If a nearby rogue planet or asteroid has a Bio Portal, that's a different story...'
In truth, Tyron hadn't shared everything he knew.
For example, Bio Portals had nothing to do with contamination.
Outspacer queens created the portals. Planets hosting queens contaminated quickly, creating the illusion of correlation.
If a queen lurked here and made a Bio Portal on a nearby meteor, their hordes could swarm without a contaminated planet.
Plus, there was unregistered chatter among Noble Capitals: rumors of Outspacers evolving to perform FTL themselves.
'No need to bring that up here.'
The team leaders stayed calm thanks to rigorous long-term training. Without hope of survival, order would collapse swiftly.
Unaware of Tyron's thoughts, the team leaders pressed on.
"Which way to the engine room?"
"Facilities Team Leader?"
"The captain's quarters line is faster than the galley route. But the situation room connects to the galley. We might link up with that team en route—pros and cons."
"Hm."
To hold out until rescue, they needed engine room control first, regardless of whether it was Outspacers, Metallic Gremlins, or a magnetic storm.
After pondering the Facilities Team Leader's input, the captain decided.
"More people mean safer and faster to the destination. We'll take the galley route."
"Yes, sir."
Following the captain's order, they took the path via the galley midway.
In the corridor devoid of light like deep space, the plasma rifles' gauge bars twinkled like stars.
As they traversed the eerie hallway toward the mining ship's core, something blocked their path.
"Blocked here too."
The group halted before a thick bulkhead door.
The ship's AI, detecting the crisis, had sealed the residential zone bulkheads as a precaution. With remote access jammed, even the situation room seemed powerless.
"Automating bulkhead release."
Fortunately, they could connect the reinforced suit's computer pad directly to the terminal for manual override. The Technical Team Leader and Research Team Leader worked together to open it.
The moment the terminal-linked door slid open, a roar echoed from afar.
"!"
"Did you hear that?"
A sharp screech like metal being shredded. Faint as it was, it was distant—but no relief.
The ominous noise didn't stop; it continued relentlessly.
"...We need to move faster."
"Yes, sir."
At Tyron's urging, their pace quickened.
No sooner had the door opened than they dashed through the dark corridor—only to face another bulkhead.
"Galley next."
While the Technical and Research Team Leaders opened the door, the captain and others stood guard.
'The noise stopped.'
The grating hum from pipes behind walls, like rushing water, had cut off abruptly.
The sudden silence unnerved him, a dread creeping that things had worsened.
With a hiss of escaping air, the door opened again.
The galley's lights flickered faintly, not fully out.
But that dim glow forced them to witness the horror within.
The galley, one of the few spots for meager enjoyment aboard the Gigacracker.
A familiar place to all aboard, now steeped in death.
The pristine white floor was drenched in blood, metal tables and chairs caked with flesh and bone fragments.
No telling how many had died—all corpses shredded beyond recognition.
And beneath the strobing light loomed a pink sludge of death.
That ceaselessly bubbling mass gazed at fresh sacrifices with hundreds of eyes from an altar of corpses, blood, and bone.
"U-Ughaaack!"
Did those eyes shatter his composure? The Medical Team Leader screamed grotesquely, aiming his plasma rifle. Just as green energy primed to fire, something white-and-red from the ceiling engulfed him.
Tyron thought it blood-soaked tablecloth. Wrong.
No tablecloth in the world suckled human blood with tentacles.
"Gaaahhh!"
"All units, open fire!"
The "bloodied cloth"—no, the monster's wing—pinned and devoured the Medical Team Leader. The aberrant's white body bore four crimson wings.
The other team leaders snapped from stupor at Tyron's command, firing as energy gauges filled. Cylindrical energy bolts lanced from muzzles.
Toward the white-and-red phantom. As bolts neared its body, red wings spread like ink, nullifying impacts on contact.
"I-It doesn't work... Grahk!"
The Crisis Management Team Leader shouted, only for his arm to twist unnaturally mid-word—invisible force at work. Quick activation of his suit's shield saved the limb.
But he underestimated the force's output, overwhelming even the shield.
"I survi—!"
As he cried out, his limbs tore away in all directions—like puppet strings yanked to shatter the doll. Fragments scattered across the galley.
"Aaaahhh!"
Even veterans screamed at the gruesome sight.
Tyron clung to calm, desperately seeking the culprit behind the Crisis Management Team Leader's fate.
'There!'
His gaze locked on the massive pink jellyfish atop the corpses. Praying for at least one hit, he unleashed a barrage.
Did luck favor him? One green plasma bolt struck a tentacle. The monster flinched in pain. Others followed, peppering its body.
As if mocking, the green energies melted harmlessly in midair before impact—like barred by an invisible wall.
The pink monster that nullified the bolts didn't counterattack. The red-winged phantom showed sluggishness unlike its prior agility.
'I don't get it, but...!'
"Fall back! Fall back!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Tyron and the team leaders retreated hastily the way they came.
The two monsters didn't pursue.
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At Adhai's request, Number 26 grunted in focus. Suddenly, purple energy tendrils bloomed in the air, undulating like deep-sea currents around 26.
Adhai prodded the violet waves with a 'Red Armor'-clad forelimb. Repulsive force shoved it back sharply.
｢This｣ ｢Like Star Power｣
｢Star Power? What's that?｣
｢Strong｣ ｢Boss｣ ｢Symbol｣
｢Whoa! Studying paid off!｣
｢Disagree｣ ｢Star Power｣ ｢Not｣ ｢Study｣
｢No way! Big Bro said studying makes you smart and strong!｣
Number 26 waved its tentacles proudly, emitting vibrations. Adhai had heard similar, so no rebuttal—just grumbling as it shook mouth tendrils.
｢This'll protect Big Bro, right?｣
｢Probably｣
｢Great! I'll eat tons more to keep Big Bro from getting hurt!｣
｢Agree｣ ｢Big Adult｣ ｢Hurt｣ ｢Then｣ ｢Egg｣ ｢Trouble｣
With that, the two resumed feasting to rebuild strength.
The reason they didn't chase the escapees was simple.
The big kid—big adult—had declared it.
This ship was theirs.
Their seasoned leader never let prey slip away.