Chapter 301: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield[R-18] (19)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 301: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield[R-18] (19)
Rodi and his team stared up at the massive mobile weapon floating in the air, utterly dumbfounded.
A colossal frame radiating crimson heat.
The sight before them was one of overwhelming terror, even for veterans with extensive combat experience.
“…Shit, what the hell is that?”
A zoomed-in image automatically appeared inside his helmet, and the external power analysis graph drew a meaningless curve.
Energy readings: immeasurable.
“These coordinates… this is definitely the G-13 zone. The same place Bane's team infiltrated, right? Didn't this thing come from there?”
Rodi gritted his teeth.
“First, connect me to Bane. Now.”
A team member hurriedly operated the communication device.
-Beep… Beep…
A moment later, an urgent voice came from the comms.
[Rodi! Get out of there, now!]
“Bane! What's going on? That monster just came out of G-13!”
[Dammit…! The #$@# unit is #$@# on its own ^$#@#! The higher-ups %$@#!!]
-Kssshhhk!
The transmission cut out.
“…Bane?”
“Hey, Bane! Answer me!”
“…Rodi.”
A brief silence.
As the massive mobile weapon's red core stained the air, Rodi gritted his teeth and muttered curtly.
“Contact the ship. Now.”
“Got it…!”
The team member quickly switched the radio channel.
“This is Knights-Shade. HQ, respond. This is an emergency. Respond.”
-Ksshk…
For a moment, the comms were filled with static, then a voice from the ship came through.
[This is the command ship Equinox. Report.]
“A large unit has activated in the G-13 zone inside the colony. We've lost contact with Bane's team, and the situation on the ground is uncontrollable.”
A moment of silence.
And the response that came back was unexpected.
[Continue the operation. The mission comes first.]
“…What did you say?”
Rodi asked, unable to believe it.
[I repeat. The operation to eliminate Adele Licencia is still active.]
“Can't you see what's happening? An entire city has been destroyed!”
[Command authority rests with the higher-ups, Rodi. Emotional involvement is forbidden. Continue tracking the target until the combat situation is resolved.]
-Click.
“…They cut the line.”
The team member next to him said in a low voice. Rodi bit his lip hard and lowered his head.
“…They're really going insane.”
He let out a heavy sigh, then straightened up.
“Fine. If those are the orders, we move out.”
His eyes looked up at the sky again.
*
Elbaite Self-Defense Force Control Room.
Red warning lights flashed rapidly along the ceiling and walls, and vibrations from the floor shook the consoles and metal pillars.
“Activate emergency manual code E-92! All control zones, switch to emergency command authority!”
At the commander's shout, a map of the entire colony unfolded on the central optical table. The site of the massive explosion in the central district was marked in a burning red.
“Guide civilian evacuation to the tertiary route! The southern barrier gate is already closed!”
“Smoke and debris are still scattering in the sky! Expanding the restricted access zone!”
The Self-Defense Force soldiers moved quickly, their faces tense, as real-time reports flooded each control station.
“Mobile Weapons 1, 2, and 4 have been deployed to the field. Currently tracking the target!”
“Unit 3 is rebooting its system. Power output is unstable!”
The commander looked at an inner monitor and asked gravely.
“That monster… has it been identified?”
“The exact model has not yet been identified, sir. It doesn't match any existing registration codes.”
“An unidentified weapon is indiscriminately bombarding the colony's center! Deploy aerial recon drones 2 and 5 immediately! Start by tracking its movements!”
“Yes, sir!”
“What are the higher-ups saying?”
“W-we can't reach them.”
At those words, the commander's hand froze.
“…What do you mean?”
“The Central Diplomatic Bureau, Command—they're all unresponsive. And we're just getting a repeating voice message.”
“…What is it saying?”
“All forces… hold your positions.”
“…What?”
The commander's eyes widened. He quickly pulled out an earpiece and put it in his ear.
—Beep…
「All forces… hold your positions.」
—Beep…
「All forces… hold your positions.」
A recorded command, repeating mechanically.
The commander frowned and hurriedly switched communication channels.
“Federation Central Defense Command, respond. This is Elbaite Self-Defense Force Command 1! An unidentified weapon is currently carrying out an indiscriminate bombardment inside the colony. Civilian casualties are immense. Requesting immediate orders to respond. Please confirm!”
But… the only response was the same message again.
—Beep…
「All forces… hold your positions.」
“…Dammit. This is insane.”
Just then, an aide looking at a nearby terminal shot up from his seat.
“Commander! We've just confirmed a record that all high-ranking council members and command staff have… evacuated via emergency escape pods!”
The commander's hand stopped.
“…What did you say?”
“They are departing for an orbit outside the colony on a G-level security vessel. Top-level access clearance. The outer air defense network was already deactivated…”
A moment of silence.
The commander's gaze went past the screen, toward the city's outskirts.
Red flashes were still erupting there.
“Civilians are dying… and those bastards ran away?”
The commander quietly rose from his seat.
“Colonel…”
“All forces, switch to emergency mode. All mobile weapons to full manual operation. Civilian evacuation is the top priority. In the name of the Self-Defense Force… we will protect this place.”
The aides nodded silently.
“Colonel! Multiple units approaching from outside the colony! They're Arsenos units!”
“Dammit… When it rains, it pours.”
The commander gritted his teeth and shouted.
“Open a channel! Warn the Arsenos ship immediately!”
“Sir!”
The comms officer began working quickly, and soon a connection tone appeared on the forward frequency.
“This is the Elbaite Self-Defense Force Command of the neutral colony! You are currently violating the military neutrality of this zone!”
The commander took a breath and shouted resolutely.
“Recall your units and withdraw from the border immediately! Otherwise, we will consider this a clear act of invasion and commence defensive actions!”
But… there was no response.
Instead, the Arsenos units on the screen only accelerated, approaching the colony's perimeter.
“…No response, sir.”
At the comms officer's report, the commander stared straight ahead without a word. Then… he slowly rose from his seat and put on his helmet.
“Fine.”
His gaze was fixed on the rapidly approaching units on the screen.
“Activate the entire colony defense network.”
“Deploy the Zero Point Shield. Automatically deploy interceptor satellites. Begin internal fortification procedures immediately.”
“Yes, Commander! Connecting to the main power line…! Shield load at 78%… and rising!”
“Bring all outer wall turrets online without delay. Close atmospheric entry and exit controls. Transfer civilian sectors to defense zones.”
He said one last thing.
“Elbaite… will not fall. We will hold to the end.”
Red alert lights lit up across the colony, and a mechanical voice began to repeat combat orders over the speakers.
—[Warning. Hostilities detected on the colony perimeter. All forces, move to battle stations.]
—[Civilians, proceed to the nearest shelter immediately.]
*
We forced our way past the Self-Defense Force. We didn't even need to use violence.
The monstrous mobile weapon that suddenly filled the sky, the colony being destroyed in an instant. The terrified Self-Defense Force soldiers could only stare at us blankly, unable to even raise their guns.
They knew there was no point in stopping us anymore.
Getting past them wasn't hard. But… the real problem was something else.
“My lady… Arsenos ships have begun bombarding the exterior of Elbaite.”
Kim Su-hyeon took a sharp breath as she operated her tactical terminal.
“I'm still confirming the exact scale… but there are at least three medium-class warships. They've begun a precision bombardment from high orbit.”
“So we can't escape.”
Adele muttered under her breath.
“Whether we can board the cruiser and get out safely at this point… is uncertain.”
“Su-hyeon, how is Elbaite responding?”
“According to the information I've hacked in real-time… Elbaite's high command evacuated a long time ago.”
“They abandoned Elbaite… Something's going on…”
Adele was lost in thought for a moment before speaking again.
“Su-hyeon, who's in command of the Elbaite forces now?”
Kim Su-hyeon quickly typed a few lines of code into her terminal.
A data stream appeared before her eyes and scrolled rapidly, before freezing on a specific individual's information.
“…The current acting commander is Colonel Rainer Praut.”
“Rainer Praut?”
Adele asked, her eyes narrowing.
“That name… I feel like I've heard it somewhere.”
“Yes. He's formerly of the Federation Mobile Fleet. However, he was discharged from the Federation five years ago due to a whistleblowing incident and was subsequently incorporated into the Elbaite Colony Self-Defense Force.”
“…Ex-Federation.”
Kim Su-hyeon added.
“His political leaning is staunchly neutral. However, his judgment during operations was rated as extremely level-headed. Perhaps because his leadership was forged in real combat rather than through formal command training, he is considered a highly trusted figure within the Self-Defense Force.”
“In that case…”
Adele muttered, nodding.
“Even with the core leadership gone, if this one man is holding the line, there's a chance.”
She quietly raised her head and said.
“Su-hyeon. Can you connect me directly to Colonel Rainer Praut?”
“It's possible if I bypass the security codes. However, the communication channels are congested right now, so I can't guarantee a stable connection.”
“Connect me anyway.”
Kim Su-hyeon placed her hand on the terminal and replied curtly.
“Order confirmed. Attempting to establish a direct link to Colonel Rainer Praut now.”
Her fingers flew across the keypad, activating the terminal's interface.
A short silence. And then—
Ding.
[Connection established. Target: Colonel Rainer Praut / Elbaite Colony Self-Defense Force HQ]
A hologram activated, displaying a blurry image.
A middle-aged man in a black uniform looked up, his face weary. His eyes were sharp.
「…This is Colonel Praut of the Elbaite Self-Defense Force. By what authority did you access this channel?」
A firm but tired voice. The voice of the last soldier defending Elbaite.
“My name is Adele Licencia.”
There was a moment of silence. Then, on the other side of the screen, the man's eyes narrowed sharply.
「…Licencia. I thought you had already left, my lady.」
“As it turns out, I couldn't.”
Adele swallowed a sigh and gripped the terminal.
“Colonel Praut, you must be aware of the current situation. The colony is being bombarded by the Arsenos fleet, and at the same time, an unidentified weapon is attacking indiscriminately from the central district. In this state, even evacuating civilians is difficult.”
She took a short breath and continued.
“We will help you.”
Praut furrowed his brow.
「Help us…? What are your forces? How many troops? Mobile weapons?」
“…One pilot.”
Praut squeezed his eyes shut, then took off his helmet and pressed his hand to his forehead.
「…One pilot? Are you mocking me? My lady, I am currently—」
“This 'one' will be enough.”
Adele cut him off firmly.
Silence filled the comms for a moment. Then Praut slowly raised his head.
「……I'm curious to see just how incredible this person is, for the young lady of the Licencia Group to make such a guarantee.」
“You won't be disappointed.”
Praut quietly lowered his head, lost in thought. He took a deep breath, then gave a slow nod.
「I'll trust you. Right now, in this situation, the only thing I can trust is someone's will to fight.」
“Thank you, Colonel.”
Adele gave a short bow.
“We will take care of the unidentified weapon. In return—”
She didn't stop.
“When this is over, you must guarantee our safety.”
Praut quietly closed his eyes and took hold of his communication device once more.
「That… I promise on my name.」
“…That will be enough.”
—Connection terminated.