09 Shadow Movement

"Then, the schedule?"

"Proceeding as planned. The cruiser 'Al' is en route to Planet Merce. Arrival in twenty-five hours."

——The battleship 'Lisa', Lombardia-class.

The flagship of the Second Colonization Fleet Deployment Unit followed quietly behind the cruiser, conducting deep-space maneuvers.

"Good. Be sure not to reveal our position."

"Understood."

The battleship was indeed there.

Yet revealed no form at all—only the darkness of space stretched endlessly.

The same optical camouflage technology used in the drone that Jin and the others had once attempted to capture.

The very same technology was applied to this battleship.

An invisible battleship.

——Naturally, its existence remains concealed.

The fact that it is registered as a Lombardia-class rather than a modified Lombardia-class confirms this.

"Indeed. Never thought such an opportunity would arise."

The awed exclamation comes from Harold Byron.

When meeting with his younger sister, Shirley, he expressed gratitude for the fortune that had just rolled into his hands—his voice unchanged.

Is it certain? That the person we seek is aboard that vessel.

No mistake. The cocoon is reacting—more precisely, the reaction has weakened. That confirms our target has moved away from the convoy.

"Then, in that case"

The crew roster has already been obtained. A human from the Third Fleet Training Academy. No mistake.

Harold licks his lips.

An unexpected fortune.

Is that so?

The one responding with nods is the detachment commander—specifically, Grace, the commander of the Griffin Unit.

The one who was riding the griffin when they restrained Chi from going berserk in front of Jin.

"That’s right. A person trained at the academy is aiming to become a soldier—ultimately, to serve humanity. They might even resonate with our cause."

"Not that simple, I’d imagine. Some join the military simply to survive. Others are driven by revenge."

"Ah. So that’s the kind of talk Grace lieutenant was known for?"

"More her subordinates than herself."

"Lieutenant Kusunoki. She’s excellent. Truly. Above all, she’s driven by purpose. A reliable ally in advancing our plan."

The newest among them, yet the most fervent in conviction.

For those pushing forward a certain plan, she was an exceptionally effective instrument.

"Yet, are you certain there’s a Queen-type on that planet, Merce?"

"Affirmative. No doubt. And an old one at that."

"...I can’t believe it."

One piece of information the Second Fleet withheld from the other fleets—Queen-type ASIDs exist on a planet previously surveyed and deemed safe.

No. That is incorrect. The planet Merce was investigated by a human connected to Harold.

The existence of the Queen was erased from the survey results.

Even concealing such information would be grounds for punishment from the other fleets.

"The Queen is currently in complete hibernation. She is likely drawing in the planet’s ether now, restoring herself from the fatigue of travel."

"Then, while we still can—"

"Yet, a hibernating Queen encases herself in a solid shell... We must awaken her first."

Harold spoke as if explaining a minor cooking procedure, requesting the awakening of a Queen capable of immense destruction.

Even that single fact made it clear Harold did not live within the bounds of ordinary human perception.

"Why go to the trouble of concealment..."

"During the initial survey, capturing it was impossible. The goal was the Reactor. Destroying it without capturing it served no purpose."

Thus, concealment was necessary.

To ensure no one else could lay hands on it until the day came when they could seize it themselves.

And now, the necessary forces were in place.

Moreover, the key to awakening it was aboard the cruiser *Al*.

The entire plan could now proceed in unison. Harold smiled, calling it an unexpected fortune.

"Two or three derivatives from the original... if this fails, we may have no choice but the original itself."

"Indeed."

"Still, one has already been located. In the worst case, we'll have to target that one."

Harold flipped through the tattered notebook.

The handwritten notebook was written in a cramped, illegible script—extremely difficult to read.

Harold decoded it without effort.

"Is this the famed Uyeka Notebook?"

"Come to think of it, I never showed the actual thing to you, Lieutenant."

Harold held the unremarkable notebook aloft as if it were a relic.

Indeed, to him, it was no less than treasure.

"Yes, this is the Uyeka Notebook... a prophetic text left behind by my ancestors. Though, admittedly, this is only a copy."

Uyeka Byron.

Ancestor of the Byron family, one of the earliest settlers in the original migrant fleet.

A pioneering figure who laid the foundation for the current migrant fleet. Well-known through biographies and films based on her life.

Her analysis of ASID, left for future generations.

Few know of it.

This is what Harold called the Uyeka Notebook.

The origin of ASID, compiled into a single notebook, was concealed after death due to its low credibility and the magnitude of its implications.

It could not be destroyed, so it was securely stored within the First Fleet.

Now, its accuracy is gradually becoming apparent.

"Good grief. I can't help but respect my uncle's obsession—he managed to make a copy of the forbidden, exquisite fragrance notebook without anyone noticing."

"Indeed. Thanks to that, we are able to realize the Laitera Project."

"Yes. We must be grateful to my uncle."

The man who was Harold’s uncle had somehow copied the notebook.

Harold obtained it and, using its contents and his own theories, devised a single plan.

The Laitera Project.

It serves as the foundation for their actions, which they claim are for humanity’s sake.

"The progenitor of all nine existing ASID units. An original, one might call it the True Queen. For us, that information alone is sufficient."

"Real queens who transcend and command all ASID?"

"Exactly. If one considers that every ASID falls within this collective, defeating these nine would mean the instant eradication of ASID from this universe. Only abundant raw material would remain."

"But if that were the case..."

"The Laitera Project becomes unattainable. Quite frustrating, isn't it? We wish to eliminate obstacles, yet eliminating them would leave us in trouble as well."

Harold laughed cheerfully—then instantly shifted to a cold expression.

"Are the units prepared?"

"All units ready. Even if they are ancient Queens, we will not fall behind."

"Excellent. Quite excellent! Once the cruiser 'Al' approaches, Merse's Queen will surely awaken. That moment—our opportunity. Let us gain their favor while advancing our plan a step further, shall we?"

The Laitera Project finally began to move in earnest.

Before the signs of its onset, Major suppressed his own rising pulse and spoke with deliberate calm.

"Are the trainees' vessels carrying your sister as well... How shall we proceed?"

"Ah. Shirley, you mean."

Harold recalled her name appearing on the ship roster.

"No special treatment required... No, actually, the likelihood of her being the target is zero. If help is needed, prioritize others over her."

The tone was identical to when he had spoken with Shirley herself.

Harold declared without hesitation that he did not need to save his sister.

"Relax. If the plan succeeds, there will be no problem."

He laughed, saying that—always the same. Too consistently so, it was unsettling.

◆ ◆ ◆

Visible. Planet Mercury.

Observation bridge of the cruiser *Alr*.

Jin looks at the image of the planet projected through the telescope.

Is that Planet Merce?

A planet touted as ideal for resupply, with favorable water and atmospheric conditions.

"Daddy, what's that? Bigger than Ship One!"

That's the planet. See, it's glowing in the night.

It's not that big...?

"Besides, that's not glowing, Mr. Higashi."

Jin stiffens slightly at the child's interruption.

"Wait, why isn't it glowing?"

"No, Lieutenant... please do not question the same point as the six-year-old. That light visible from the convoy is the planet reflecting its star's light. It does not emit light spontaneously."

Hmm.

"Is that so? Thank you."

"Huh. Didn't know that."

The three exchange impressed glances at Shirley's trivia.

"A planet with almost no landmass, where only a limited number of plant and animal species exist on the sparse terrain. The vast oceans remain largely unexplored, but no dangerous native lifeforms have been detected. A safe planet, indeed."

Mio and Shu send expectant glances toward Jin in response.

Jin crosses his hands over his chest.

"Not happening. No landing."

"Aw."

"I wanted to go down, just once!"

"Repeatedly stated—no. Not under any circumstances. Especially not by sneaking aboard."

He emphasizes this, recalling his prior offense for being present here.

"Tomorrow, then—landing drills. Honestly, I’m not good at those."

"Oh? The ace showing hesitation?"

"Re-entry isn't solved by aggression, you know."

"I've thought it for a while—truly, you're quite the brute, Lieutenant."

"Nice. I’d like to try riding an assault frame someday."

Mio, listening to Jin, lets out a quiet note of longing.

"True... joining the military is probably the quickest way. The Defense Force is solid. You get a salary from the moment you enroll in the training academy. You’ll earn a job earlier than classmates who went to high school. And the pension system is well-established. Even if you’re discharged due to injury or illness, you’ll live comfortably."

"Some people just drop out and end up running a mess hall."

The two picture Jake’s face.

He’s doing fairly well, all things considered.

Still, Jin has something to say even to a child who’s only dreaming.

"Just as expected, it's a dangerous task where life is at stake. Regeneration therapy is possible if the brain remains intact, but death means no return. Consider that carefully before choosing. If you still wish to join... I'll train you rigorously, so I might survive."

Whether Jin will still be serving as Instructor by the time Shu enters the academy remains uncertain.

If that comes to pass, Jin licks his lips, thinking he'll train him even harder than he did Kou—or more.

"U... I think I'll pass on that... I mean, I really should just... never mind..."

Seeing Jin's expression, Shu looked genuinely frightened.