14 Dead End Choice

What had been believed to be an island.

It裂s open.

With a rumble, the earth heaves upward, chunks of soil falling into the sea.

A shudder, like a dog shaking water from its body, and the rocks fly en masse.

From the dust, the form emerges—a massive quadrupedal iron beast.

If one must name a similar creature, it would be the elephants that once lived on the mother planet.

A monster with a long trunk and vicious tusks.

And atop its back, mismatched wings.

Queen-type ASID. An individual whose mixed traits have eradicated several ecosystems.

If Second Fleet Harold’s prediction holds, a grandchild or great-grandchild of the primordial Queen.

A true monster, having existed in this cosmos for so long, having consumed so many lives.

On the planet Merse, a metallic cry echoes across the sky.

In response to the call, countless lights ignite around the Queen.

Each one a servant who has journeyed across the stars with the Queen.

Their gazes align in unison.

Facing the sky.

◆ ◆ ◆

"Bridge! What was that shockwave!?"

The Queen’s awakening reached even Jin’s camp.

Querying the cruiser *Al*, stationed in orbit, for information beyond their view.

The reply was an answer Jin found impossible to believe.

"ASID! A Queen-type entity was on Merse!"

"Wait—what? You're kidding, right?"

Jin’s voice cracks with disbelief and irritation at the catastrophic oversight.

Then, he reconsiders.

This is not a matter of merely overlooking the existence of ASID.

Especially not.

"Moreover, the output level and scale of this group... it might exceed humanoid classification!"

If such a powerful group exists, the implications are even graver.

It would be easier to accept if this were intentional.

If it isn’t intentional, that’s an even greater problem.

If incompetence like this continues, humanity will destroy itself.

“Evacuate the trainees. Send me the Queen’s coordinates.”

“Understood. We’re beginning return trajectory calculations. All escort units launching. Establishing alert posture.”

Jin begins planning their retreat, thinking this is all too familiar lately.

Same as last time with the Queen.

The fleet’s strength might balance the scales, but a single vessel cannot compete.

First, create a situation where escape is possible.

He knows well that lingering in a losing position is pointless.

“Return route using Melce as shield. This vessel will follow—”

The return route received.

The route, using the planet’s surface as a shield against Queen’s attacks and reaching the cruiser, was the most efficient possible.

Except for one critical flaw.

Communication with cruiser Al is lost.

At that instant, a flash covers the sky.

A massive column of light stains the evening sky white.

The scene.

Jin recognizes it.

"Impossible."

He wishes it were a lie.

But this is an Ether-based attack.

An Ether Cannon of such magnitude it surpasses even a Lombardia-class battleship.

How it works is unclear. The beam was fired in a curved trajectory along the planet’s surface.

It struck the cruiser Al, concealed and hidden on the opposite side.

From Jin’s vantage on the ground, the massive cruiser is barely visible—growing larger by the second.

The cruiser Al, spewing fire from its hull side, descended while barely regaining control. It slowed sharply near the surface, yet failed to stabilize—scoring a deep trench into the ground before coming to a halt.

It was obvious to all that it could no longer take flight.

◆ ◆ ◆

The situation was near its worst.

Naturally, with the cruiser Al now crashed and inoperable.

Jin and the others had no means of returning to the colony fleet.

The landing craft remained functional, but lacked the capability for overlight navigation.

Under those conditions, a journey measured in light-years was impossible.

The only fortunate aspect was the near-total absence of human casualties on board.

The struck block had been near the thrusters—where few had been stationed to begin with, a factor that proved fortunate.

Two personnel remain unaccounted for. Either vaporized without a trace, or ejected into the void of space.

Without time to don standard suits, the outcome is identical either way.

The twelve escort units that had launched were struck directly.

All twelve failed to return. Given the circumstances, they were likely shot down.

Otherwise, everything remained intact.

The bridge, the communications personnel.

Therefore, a distress call was issued immediately.

Awaiting the response, a tactical briefing unfolded aboard the bridge, heavy with tension.

"Forty-eight hours... too long."

Jin twisted his expression upon hearing the number.

He understood it was nearly the fastest possible timeframe.

That was precisely why they had to proceed under that assumption.

"What is the group's rate of advance?"

"Unchanged. At this pace, contact is expected in thirty-eight hours."

The immediate priority is the ASID cluster emerging at Melce.

An unprecedentedly powerful queen type, unmatched in scale by the vast swarm that surrounds her.

They are on the same planet.

Speeds in open space should be far more reckless... yet it's surprisingly slow.

Based on the data collected just before impact, this group appears to be adapted to land-based movement. Their aerial speed may have been sacrificed in the process.

Mechanic Shirley cuts her words short there. With no other qualified personnel available, she was also conducting performance analysis on the current enemy ASID.

Regarding this ground combat equipment... there is almost nothing prepared. There is only one Ground Package designated for the Instructor. There are no additional units available for the other trainees.

Trainees do not hold licenses for gravity-based combat. Fourth-years may move somewhat more competently, having undergone this three times now—yet still, the disparity remains.

Swallowed the words that said only movement mattered.

Not fit for combat, not even remotely.

During expedition training, ASIDs typically do not exist on planets.

While surplus Astral Packages remain from the escort unit, Ground Packages do not exist.

Attempting gravity combat using an Orbit Package, which trainees used to breach the atmosphere, would be a tactical anomaly—unthinkable in practice.

"Put simply, it's difficult to bring combat into the field."

"Even you would find it impossible, wouldn't you?"

The captain of the cruiser *Al* asked, watching Jin's expression.

Jin shrugged.

"Taking down a Queen Type alone? Foolish. I won't do it again."

With full resolve, there might be a one-in-ten-thousand chance of victory.

In short, nearly certain death.

Even so, Jin had no intention of gambling with his life.

Then, it seems we have no choice but to flee until reinforcements arrive.

Shirley nods in response to the captain’s words.

'Repair of the 'Al' will be completed in three hours. We should be able to manage low-speed flight.'

But that speed is negligible.

At best, barely hover and move. Breaking through the atmosphere is impossible. More importantly,

'Evasive maneuvers are out of the question. If that barrage comes again, we won’t be able to avoid it.'

Even at peak condition, dodging a direct hit was barely manageable.

Next time, evasion will be impossible.

Thus, even if fleeing, they needed a way to halt the enemy’s attack.

No options remain. Too few choices exist.

A hand so desperately short.

To save as many as possible, they must abandon hope of saving everyone.

Jin thinks.

How many lives must he command to buy how much time?

Even if using the cruiser as a decoy and evacuating the limited personnel via landing craft,

even if using the landing craft and assault frame unit as decoys to draw the cruiser away,

hundreds of lives will be lost.

At present, there is only one option—neither can be avoided.

And whichever path is chosen… Jin must stand at the forefront.

In moments like this, the title of ace is inconvenient. He cannot be the first to flee.

To do so would break morale. More importantly, Jin himself could not endure it.

It is not just his own life at stake—Mio is here too.

He cannot entrust her life to others. Not even to an opponent stronger than himself.

“…Allow me time to consider. Dismissed for now.”

The final decision rests with the captain.

To decide knowing it will doom half the crew is not something easily made.

No matter the choice, movement is impossible until repairs are complete.

This time to think was welcome to Jin.

No matter which decision is made, Jin’s course of action remains unchanged.

“Sergeant.”

Jin calls out to Shirley, who is turning to return to her post.

Her face, when she turns, already understands what he is about to say.

“I have a request.”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“There’s no one else I can ask. I’m asking you to perform the unit’s reconfiguration.”

“Are you going out?”

“I don’t know the enemy’s accuracy. Or their rate of fire. We need a delay.”

Shirley surely already knows this.

She knows, too, that this is effectively a suicide mission.

“Are you going alone again?”

“…Yes. Again. That’s how it is.”

In the end, it’s the same as the past two years.

Jin does not seem to intend to return. Shirley can only watch him go.

She cannot bring herself to say aloud that she wishes him back.

She can accompany him only to the edge of the battlefield. Not beyond.

The relationship between Lieutenant and Sergeant.

……! Understood, Lieutenant.

Clamping her eyes shut as if suppressing something.

When she opened them, her expression had returned to that of a Sergeant.

To the back of Shirley, turning to carry out Jin’s request at once.

“One more thing, Shirley.”

A phrase spoken—different from the past two years.