19 Second Fleet Deployment Unit
"...What is this?"
It was discovered when the cruiser *Rea* moved alongside an asteroid that had been traveling in formation with the fleet.
Ship 1 — an object attached to the main vessel of the移民 fleet, resembling an asteroid.
The object itself was not particularly unusual.
The structure was designed to allow such attachments to be disregarded and proceed past them.
Yet this one was different.
"A cocoon?"
Smooth surface.
It looked like a cocoon, as Jin had said.
Its form, stretched against the outer hull of the fleet like threads pulled taut, evoked something insect-like.
It was unmistakably not just an asteroid.
"Another incomprehensible object..."
Various sensors attempted to peer into the cocoon, but all failed.
Completely shielded.
A single click of the tongue.
The quickest method would be to force it open by brute strength—.
"No, it's too dangerous to force it open without knowing what's inside."
Yet, no matter how he considered it, this was clearly tied to the ASID.
He wanted to remove it as quickly as possible.
Still, he couldn't decide that on his own.
He should request orders from higher command.
And yet... something about this cocoon evoked a strange sense of nostalgia.
An extremely peculiar sensation. Jin had never encountered anything like it in his entire life.
As Jin stood there, contemplating, a transmission arrived from 'Rhea'.
"Lieutenant Higashi. Command has sent a message. The jurisdiction over this attachment has changed."
"Jurisdiction shift? Where to?"
"Second Fleet. It's been reassigned to their detachment."
"Second Fleet..."
Looking toward the shadow of the fleet, a single Lombardia-class battleship approached.
Likely the flagship of the Second Fleet's dispatched unit.
From it, a unit emerged—slightly larger than a Raven.
A Type-15 Gryphon, its white armor reflecting sunlight.
"That is the cybernetic-exclusive model..."
Jin had never seen the real thing before.
Equipped with wing-like thrusters on its back, the unit claimed to perform accelerations and maneuvers impossible for unmodified flesh.
Its armaments were larger, clearly indicating increased firepower.
On the other hand, unlike the Raven, it could not be optimized per operational domain through optional modules—but its performance more than compensated for this limitation.
The acceleration was no illusion.
One moment it cast a bright luminous trail, the next it closed the distance to Jin's Raven in an instant.
"Step back. This object is under our custody."
A young, female voice.
Words that asserted will without regard for contradiction.
Jin felt a sharp irritation at the arrogance in her tone.
"Quite the early arrival. You've come swiftly indeed. You reported finding this just moments ago—well done."
Too soon.
It stirred suspicion within Jin.
What is this.
Jin and the others understand nothing.
Yet undeniably, the Second Fleet has secured it.
Otherwise such immediate response would be impossible.
"Hey, what the hell is this?"
Attempting to find any opening, he spoke lightly.
The reply came as something with a rigid texture.
‘I won’t say it again. Step back.’
The griffin leveled a large ether rifle at Jin’s Raven.
A lock-on alert sounded simultaneously.
Jin immediately initiated an evasion maneuver.
But the opponent tracked it precisely.
Realizing this, Jin increased speed, repeatedly executing sharp turns to dislodge the rifle’s aim.
Jin finally broke free from the rifle’s aim with a decisive evasion, incorporating feints into the maneuver.
He had never exerted himself this intensely, even against humanoid opponents.
“Are you insane?!”
The enemy unit’s weapon barrel swung toward him.
This was no longer a matter for jest.
A misstep could ignite the first inter-fleet war in human history.
That someone who failed to grasp such a fundamental truth had been selected for the deployment unit was difficult to accept.
“Final warning. Withdraw. Refuse, and you will be destroyed.”
“That’s my line, miss. Lower your rifle from our ace and get back.”
Somewhere in the background.
The regular infantry squadron had launched from the *Rhea*.
Twelve Ravens now aimed Ether Rifles at the Griffin.
The conspicuous laser sights were not for aiming—they were declarations of intent.
“Back off!”
Jin’s concern for his safety was clear, but this standoff—weapons aimed at each other—was perilous.
A single misstep, a sudden discharge, and there would be no undoing it.
‘Ace…? So, you’re the one—Higashi Jin…!’
An instant later, hatred tainted the voice.
Jin flinched under the unrelenting glare of pure animosity.
He had no memory of having provoked such fury.
He knew no one from the Second Fleet.
‘You… who are you?’
No answer.
Only ragged breathing reached his ears.
Regardless of Jin’s confusion, the Griffin’s Ether Rifle was preparing to fire.
Bad.
Jin’s tension rose.
Evasion was simple.
He could preemptively shatter the Ether Rifle with his own weapon.
But doing so left the next move unresolved.
Holding the line was impossible.
A decision had to be made.
The larger size meant charging took time, but within the barrel's depth, the glow of ether began to fill.
There was only one option. Leaving Mio here to die was not possible.
As Jin made his decision and raised the ether rifle— the light at the muzzle extinguished.
‘My subordinate has made an apology.’
A calm male voice cut through the air, tense and ready to snap.
Another Griffin, which had approached unnoticed, now held the first Griffin’s rifle in check.
The barrel was forcibly lowered, likely the unit’s controls locked as well.
The first unit immediately became docile.
‘This one is our new recruit. Rather overeager, it seems.’
Clearly, the newcomer had acted too hastily.
The intent to resolve the matter in this manner was evident.
‘Regarding this incident, I will formally apologize at a later date. Would you be willing to withdraw from this position?’
'Proper discipline is needed. You’ve gone too far with that.'
The squad leader seemed to understand.
In truth, pursuing this matter further would yield no benefit for us.
We do not wish to provoke a convoy war.
Yet, despite delivering the harshest possible rebuke, the words failed to land.
A calm voice returned, unchanged.
'I shall speak with her as well.'
Gentle in tone, but the message remained the same.
Leave without listening.
'We withdraw. If that is the order from above, we have no choice but to obey.'
'Tch. Still doesn’t sit right.'
Muttering, the twelve Ravens simultaneously turned their barrels outward.
A faint relaxation in the air.
"Thank you. We regret to inform you that we do not possess the authority to respond. Information regarding this object will be disseminated through higher command, should it become necessary."
Jin felt no trace of sincerity in the words, yet he restrained himself from echoing the captain’s dismissive click of the tongue.
He did not turn his back.
Slowly, they withdrew.
The first Gryphon.
It seemed to follow Jin’s trajectory.
This is the cyborg unit.
If all members are of comparable caliber, their reputation exceeds reality.
Of course, he would not lose in a one-on-one engagement.
"Something feels off."
The Second Fleet’s forceful intervention.
There had to be intent behind it.
Yet at present, no indication of that intent could be discerned.
Still—
"Is that drone also from the Second Fleet?"
He had deployed the drone to locate this.
At least a plausible explanation now exists.
If the object of the search was that cocoon, it was a case of darkness beneath the lighthouse—excessive, even.
"Useless. I can't tell."
He wasn't a detective, after all.
Solving mysteries wasn't his duty.
Intruding beyond one's assigned role was not the Instructor's responsibility.
"But that cocoon… what was it?"
An odd sense of familiarity.
He couldn't recall where he'd first encountered it, yet Jin felt an unmistakable pull.
Shaking it off, he landed the 'Rare' unit.
The Griffin's main camera continued to track Jin's frame until that moment.
"Feels like I'm drained…"
It was supposed to be a routine collection mission.
Yet, unforeseen events kept unfolding in succession.
Jin felt a sudden wave of exhaustion. He wanted to return home, see Mio's face.
To be soothed, then sleep deeply.
Jin thought, dragging his weary body as if it were worse than raging across the battlefield with a misstep.